It was all about the tyres, not about DAS not about technical or mechanical superiority, it was all about the tyres. And Red Bull simply provided Max Verstappen with a car that was better equipped to manage its tyres. And Red Bull had Max Verstappen, one of the few drivers in F1 able to extract maximum performance from his car and then over-deliver. The result was an unexpected victory against a superior Mercedes team. Mercedes was not able to command and conquer as it did at last week’s British Grand Prix. Although qualifying demonstrated that they had an overwhelming advantage and were odds on to sustain that advantage in the race.

It appeared to be business as usual as both Mercedes raced away on lap 1. Bottas pipped Hamilton to pole position and for the first few racing laps harried and hustled Bottas for the lead. But the race soon settled and by 10 laps in Verstappen was not falling away from third. The red Bull driver started qualified fourth and started the race on the softer medium tyres. Mercedes opted to start both drivers on the softer mediums tyres.

However, revised tyre pressure settings mandated by tyre supplier Pirelli, adversely affected team Mercedes. Mercedes soon realized that the tyre wear rate was accelerating faster than predicted which significantly affected their usual dominant race pace. As the Mercedes pitted for Bottas and Hamilton on laps 13 and 14 for hard tyres, Verstappen stayed out. The Red Bull suffered no such issues with tyre wear.

Pitting for the softer medium tyres on lap 26 meant Verstappen dropped to third, behind Bottas. Verstappen soon reclaimed second position, however, Hamilton opted to stay out for another 10 laps. At one point it appeared as if he was not intending to pit for the remainder of the race. But yet again the Mercedes suffered excessive tyre wear which forced Hamilton to pit thereby giving the lead away to Verstappen.

Hamilton rejoined in 4th place, a fresh set of tyres and 11 laps to go meant significant advantage in terms of outright pace. Hamilton soon caught and passed a very defensive Charles Leclerc and with two laps to go secured second from a fading Bottas. But it was too late to catch Verstappen who cruised to an unexpectedly easy victory. Hamilton retains a 30 point advantage in the driver’s championship, Max Verstappen moves to second and Bottas drops to third.

2020 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit: Results