- 2020 Formula 1 season rolls on into Mugello this weekend for the inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix
- Second successive weekend in Italy, after Pierre Gasly’s remarkable win at Monza last time out
- Lewis Hamilton retains 47-point championship lead, despite finishing seventh last weekend, as Ferrari compete in 1000th race
MUGELLO, ITALY – After Pierre Gasly’s remarkable win at Monza, will Mugello throw up more drama on its’ debut in the inaugural Formula 1 Tuscan Grand Prix this weekend?
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Gasly riding Monza wave
As a greatly altered 2020 Formula 1 season reaches the half way mark, Italy looks to grab the sporting headlines for the second weekend on the bounce in the inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix.
A week on from the fireworks of Monza, AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly rolls into Mugello for the circuit’s F1 debut, on the back of his first race win.
Taking the chequered flag ahead of McLaren’s Carlos Sainz by a mere second, the Frenchman enters the paddock with a grin like a Cheshire cat.
Gasly will know however, the chances of lightning striking twice, particularly in central Italy are slim to none.
Grabbing his deserved moment in the spotlight however, can Gasly make it a memorable fortnight in Tuscany this weekend?
Vettel future decided
It had been strongly rumoured for the majority of the season, but Thursday finally saw the announcement that Sebastian Vettel will move to renamed Aston Martin Racing for next season.
With Sergio Perez set to be replaced for Racing Point – as they are currently known – Vettel will now be eyeing next term with the fast-developing Silverstone-based manufacturer.
Arriving at Mugello this weekend more pertinently, the Ferrari driver will now finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, after what has thus far been a nightmarish final season with Scuderia.
With the Prancing Horse continuing to scrabble at the back of the field for mere scraps of points, last weekend at Monza saw a double retirement for Ferrari for the second time this year.
Ahead of successive weekends of racing in Italy, the German will now look for something of a clean slate in his final nine races for Ferrari.
Scuderia notch 1000
Mugello is perhaps a fitting venue for its’ first outing on the F1 calendar, as the Italian manufacturer also celebrate their 1000th race this weekend on home soil.
As the only team to have competed in every F1 world championship since its’ inception in 1950, Scuderia’s long string of F1 wins stretches back to the British GP in 1951.
The oldest team in F1, Ferrari have won 221 races, claimed 15 world drivers’ titles, 16 constructors’ championships, 207 pole positions and 679 podium finishes.
Though their more recent and worrying malaise leaves Team boss Mattia Binotto contemplating little chance of improving on their number of race wins, a trip to Tuscany for a milestone weekend will nevertheless be a special one.
Mugello bow
More known for its’ regular slot on the MotoGP calendar, this weekend, Mugello takes its’ own Formula 1 bow.
A winding, bending track more suited to two wheels, Scarperia e San Piero nevertheless slots effortlessly onto this season’s grand tour of racing circuits.
The 15-turn, 5.245km circuit has a 1km-long straight and has seen Urbino-born motorcycling royalty Valentino Rossi win here a record seven times in succession between 2002 and 2008.
Though Mugello will see F1 cars racing competitively around it for the first time, in-season testing did however, take place in 2012.
After last weekend’s fireworks at the Temple of Speed, it is perhaps a pity the 50,000 capacity stands will remain empty but despite the lack of fan attendance, Mugello has the ingredients to be another fiery race.
The 2020 Formula 1 Tuscan Grand Prix takes places at Mugello this weekend.
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