Spanish Grand Prix race day
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By: Geoff Creighton
Summary
Status: Stopped
And that's a wrap on Autosport's Live coverage of the Spanish Grand Prix, won comfortably by new points leader Lewis Hamilton.
See you again in two weeks' time for the Monaco Grand Prix, but stick with Autosport in the coming days for news and analysis, videos and podcasts following the race in Barcelona.
"It was a hectic first corner. I just backed out of it and it gave me a good position," says Verstappen. "From there, the Mercedes cars were too quick today."
And Bottas's thoughts at the chequered flag are: "It was pretty tight but I lost it at the start. There was some strange behaviour on the clutch, it was biting and releasing, which I've never felt before. I lost the race there."
Hamilton adds: "It's definitely been a bit of a hard first four races. Naturally we have a great car, but we don't always get along. I'm grateful in the race that we managed to settle our differences."
"Firstly, I have to put it down to this incredible team," Hamilton tells David Coulthard. "This is history in the making to have five 1-2s. I'm very proud to be a part of that."
Hamilton embraces his team in parc ferme, having now gone top of the points. Bottas gets a quick handshake.
"Get in there, Lewis!" says Mercedes over the team radio. "What a race drive that was, awesome day."
Outside the points: 11 Albon; 12 Ricciardo; 13 Hulkenberg; 14 Raikkonen; 15 Perez; 16 Giovinazzi; 17 Russell; 18 Kubica
Result: 1 Hamilton; 2 Bottas; 3 Verstappen; 4 Vettel; 5 Leclerc; 6 Gasly; 7 Magnussen; 8 Sainz; 9 Kvyat; 10 Grosjean
Hamilton crosses the line and wins the Spanish GP by 4.074s over Bottas in yet another Mercedes one-two!
Vettel does his best lap of the day so far, but it's only a tenth quicker than Verstappen so they stay 1.7s apart in third and fourth.
Sainz is now told to reign things in a bit: "Don't challenge the car too much in entry Turn 5, front locking coming from aggressive turn in."
Four laps left, Hamilton's lead stands at 2.9s, with Verstappen another 3.5s back. Vettel has drifted 2s away from Verstappen now so that one has also fizzled out.
How quickly things can change. Grosjean looked well set to finish best of the rest before the safety car, but is just about clinging on to the points now! Kvyat has also made his way ahead of the Haas man.
Sainz gets by next time round though by breezing past the Haas on the run to the first corner with the help of DRS. Eighth place for the McLaren now.
Is there a chance of late excitement in the podium battle? Vettel is still only 1.5s behind Verstappen and not being dropped.
Grosjean ends up on the Turn 1 runoff again, this time after banging wheels with Sainz. The McLaren went down the inside, the Haas stayed to the outside, they touched briefly and the Haas stayed ahead by scooting off track.
Lead gaps with nine laps left: 1 Hamilton; 2 Bottas +2.3s; 3 Verstappen +5.1s; 4 Vettel +6.8s; 5 Leclerc +9.1s; 6 Gasly +12.1s
Ricciardo asks Renault to be released from behind Hulkenberg as he feels he is losing too much time, and is immediately granted that wish. He's now half a second behind 11th-place man Albon.
Bottas is replying, he goes 2.2s quicker than Hamilton on that lap and brings the gap down to 2.7s again. Is that a coordinated Mercedes attempt for them both to have a crack at fastest lap point?
Vettel is lurking within DRS range of Verstappen's third place now. Leclerc has fallen 2.2s off their tail but shaken off Gasly.
And Hamilton follows that new fastest lap up with another one that's 1.4s quicker still - a 1m18.492s.
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