Clash of Supercars Sees Torrente Win Second Grand Prix

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time
1	62	Jules Bianchi		1:16.106
2	63	Diego Álvarez Torrente		1:16.114
3	2	Lewis Hamilton		1:16.379
4	1	Sebastian Vettel		1:16.426
5	30	Dean Stoneman		1:16.464
6	34	Valtteri Bottas		1:16.727
7	33	Einar Ármannsson		1:16.779
8	22	Jordan Davies		1:17.090
9	24	Kevin Magnussen		1:17.092
10	31	Romain Grosjean		1:17.399
11	28	Daniel Melrose		1:17.485
12	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		1:17.518
13	29	Pastor Maldonado		1:16.279*
14	32	Alexander Albon		1:17.591
15	23	Pierre Gasly		1:17.716
16	66	Pascal Wehrlein		1:17.796
17	5	Marvin Kirchhöfer		1:17.923
18	27	Dave Cassidy		1:18.167
19	6	Santiago Urrutia		1:18.614
20	90	Daniel Ricciardo		1:18.657
21	119	Felix Rosenqvist		1:18.876
22	91	Max Verstappen		1:18.888
23	67	Mike Rockenfeller		1:18.927
24	118	Carlos Sainz Jr		1:19.044
25	55	Artem Markelov		1:19.215
26	56	Sergey Sirotkin		1:19.485

* demoted ten places for causing an avoidable accident

Report:

 

The second and most likely final San Marino Grand Prix was not under a good sign, as the threat of rain was present. Thankfully, the rain only came in minor drizzles that current F1 cars could manage without needing a tyre change and going off the track.

Precision-Mercedes did claim that they were rather good at dealing with the Imola circuit and that claim was proven in qualifying, where they took control of the front row. However, they lost out to Hamilton at the start and Bianchi was passed by Vettel as well.

At the second round of stops, however, Precision countered. Diego Torrente shadowed the race leader for the entire race and then took advantage of an audacious undercut to steal the lead, holding on to it despite having slighty worse-worn tyres than the Caterhams.

With Torrente taking his second win of the year and Vettel shrinking down the lead of Maldonado, who still fought back well from his grid penalty, the rest of 2019 looks to become another classic season, with three teams able to fight for wins and therefore the titles.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	63	Diego Álvarez Torrente		45:17.531	15
2	1	Sebastian Vettel		+1.920	12
3	62	Jules Bianchi		+3.004	10
4	2	Lewis Hamilton		+5.819	8
5	30	Dean Stoneman		+20.495	6
6	29	Pastor Maldonado		+21.264	5
7	34	Valtteri Bottas		+40.953	4
8	33	Einar Ármannsson		+52.514	3
9	31	Romain Grosjean		+60.969	2
10	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		+63.177	1
11	24	Kevin Magnussen		+63.414	0
12	28	Daniel Melrose		+64.508	0
13	27	Dave Cassidy		+69.961	0
14	90	Daniel Ricciardo		1 Lap	0
15	66	Pascal Wehrlein		1 Lap	0
16	5	Marvin Kirchhöfer		1 Lap	0
17	6	Santiago Urrutia		1 Lap	0
18	91	Max Verstappen		1 Lap	0
19	32	Alexander Albon		1 Lap	0
20	118	Carlos Sainz Jr		1 Lap	0
21	119	Felix Rosenqvist		1 Lap	0
22	67	Mike Rockenfeller		1 Lap	0
23	55	Artem Markelov		1 Lap	0
24	22	Jordan Davies		1 Lap	0
DNF	23	Pierre Gasly		Puncture	0
DNF	56	Sergey Sirotkin		Engine	0

Fastest Lap:

Sebastian Vettel – 1:18.670

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Daniel Ricciardo – the Australian was a major annoyance to other, better equipped, rivals.

Reject Of The Race:

Jordan Davies – yesterday’s hero became a major zero.