Spanish Grand Prix: 55th Formula 1 victory for Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) converts his 64th pole position into the 55th Formula One victory today at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Hamilton wins the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who remains in the championship lead.
Vettel was leading for most of the race but didn’t win
Different tyre strategies for Hamilton, Vettel
Vettel had the fastest start and he annulled Hamilton’s grid advantage, building a 2-second gap in the opening lap. They were using different sets of tyres during the race and the first close duel happened on lap 38, when Vettel came out of pits with medium tyres while Hamilton was on the softs.
After a contant with Hamilton in turn 1, Vettel remains in the lead but only for few more laps. The #44 Mercedes took the lead on lap 44. Until the end of the race, Hamilton’s advantage was 3.5 seconds.
Kimi Raikkonen was out of race on the opening lap
Raikkonen, Verstappen were out in turn 1 of lap 1
An early drama occurred on the opening lap, when Valteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen entered turn 1 threewide. After a contact with #77 Mercedes, Raikkonen hit Verstappen and they both retired with damaged cars. Bottas continued to race with undamaged car but his day was over on lap 39, when the engine of his car expired. He was in the third place before that, giving up the last podium place to Daniel Ricciardo.
Ricciardo defended his podium, crossing the finish line more than 75 seconds behind the winner. He was the only driver in the same lap with Hamilton and Vettel. Sergio Perez was fourth, ahead of Esteban Ocon. Nico Hulkenberg, Pascal Wehrlein, Carlos Sainz Jr, Daniil Kvyat and Romain Grosjean completed the top 10.
Check the full results of the Spanish Grand Prix
Vettel leads the championship standings with 104 points, six more than Hamilton. Bottas is far behind in the third place, with 63 points on his account.
The next stop for F1 drivers is Monte-Carlo, where the Monaco Grand Prix would take place on May 28.
Photos: formula1.com, ferrarif1.com,
