Formula One: Mercedes matches one-two record as Hamilton wins Spanish GP

Lewis Hamilton overtook Valtteri Bottas at turn one and went on to triumph in Barcelona, moving back to the top of the drivers' standings.

Published : May 12, 2019 20:32 IST

Hamilton's Spanish GP win sees him move seven points clear of Mercedes team-mate Bottas.
Hamilton's Spanish GP win sees him move seven points clear of Mercedes team-mate Bottas.
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Hamilton's Spanish GP win sees him move seven points clear of Mercedes team-mate Bottas.

Mercedes matched the record of five successive Formula One one-twos as Lewis Hamilton beat pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas to glory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

Reigning champion Hamilton also took home the fastest-lap bonus for the first time this season to regain the lead in the drivers' standings and move seven points clear of Bottas, who had to settle for second ahead of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

It is just the fifth time in F1 history that a team has taken the top two steps of the podium for five straight races and the third instance of Mercedes achieving the feat since 2014.

A safety car in the second half of the race after Lando Norris and Lance Stroll collided brought the cars back together, but Hamilton held on to seal his third victory of the season and third in succession in Barcelona.

Hamilton got away quicker than Bottas and took the lead into turn one, while Sebastian Vettel, who started third, locked up and ran wide with an attempt to overtake down the outside of the Mercedes duo.

Vettel sustained a flat spot on his tyre in the process and team orders were used to let Charles Leclerc pass on lap 12.

The German four-time champion was put on mediums for his second stint and Leclerc received the hard compound as Ferrari appeared to deploy a one-stop strategy with the Monegasque.

Vettel pitted again but Norris clipped Stroll's rear into turn two on lap 45, bringing out the safety car and offering everyone a chance to pit for fresh tyres.

Hamilton and Bottas faced no issues when racing resumed with 14 laps remaining, cruising serenely to another one-two that left Mercedes' supremacy unchecked.

FERRARI IN SHAMBLES

Pre-season testing at this track suggested Ferrari was finally going to challenge Mercedes, but despite bringing upgrades for the second successive race it was unable to pose a threat to the Silver Arrows.

There also seemed to be a distinct lack of leadership from the garage, with team orders twice taking too long to be issued and costing Vettel and Leclerc valuable seconds.

A haul of 22 points with Vettel and Leclerc finishing fourth and fifth respectively sees it fall further behind Mercedes in the constructors' standings.

NO CHANGE FOR RENAULT

Daniel Ricciardo qualified 10th but started 13th due to his three-place grid penalty for reversing into Daniil Kvyat in Baku, and he struggled in the midfield in Barcelona.

The Australian seemed to lack the pace and confidence to fight his way through the field, while Nico Hulkenberg was unable to make much ground after starting from the pits due to a front-wing change after his crash in Q1 on Saturday.

It is already the third time this season it has seen both drivers fail to register points at the same grand prix.

HAAS BATTLING TWICE

There was slight contact between Haas duo Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen into turn two on lap 56 in a battle for seventh.

The uncompromising Dane refused to give way and Grosjean had to take the escape route before re-joining the track, something he had to do twice more – once with Magnussen and once with Carlos Sainz Jr – as he dropped down the standings before the chequered flag.

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