Autosport Podcast: F1 Spanish GP review
A strategy masterclass from Mercedes paved the way for Lewis Hamilton to score his third victory of the Formula 1 season in the Spanish Grand Prix, defeating Max Verstappen.
While Verstappen won the wheel-to-wheel fight at Turn 1, he didn’t have the pace to beat Hamilton over the race distance as Mercedes switched to an audacious two-stop strategy.
In flashbacks to Hungary 2019, Hamilton was able to hunt Verstappen down and pass with seven laps to go, clinching a win that extended his championship lead and marked his best-ever start to an F1 season.
Red Bull was accepting in its defeat, realising there was little it could have done to outfox Mercedes on the pit wall. But the battle looks set to rage on throughout the year between F1’s two dominant squads.
Recapping all of the action from Sunday’s race in Barcelona, Ariana Bravo is joined by Autosport F1 Reporter Luke Smith, GP Racing Executive Editor Stuart Codling and Motorsport Network Director of Digital Strategy Jess McFadyen for the latest edition of the Autosport Podcast.
You can listen to the podcast using the player below, or listen and download from all good audio platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
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Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Why Alfa's boss is ready for the task of securing a stronger F1 future
Two tenth places in recent races have lifted Alfa Romeo to the head of Formula 1's 'Class C' battle in 2021, but longer-term the Swiss-based squad has far loftier ambitions. With the new 2022 rules set to level out the playing field, team boss Frederic Vasseur has good reason to be optimistic, as he explained to Autosport in an exclusive interview
How Barnard’s revolutionary McLaren transformed F1 car construction
The MP4/1 was pioneering by choice, but a McLaren by chance. STUART CODLING relates the tangled (carbonfibre) weaves which led to the creation of one of motor racing’s defining cars
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Why polarising Mosley’s legacy amounts to far more than tabloid rumour
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Why pragmatic Perez isn't fazed by no-nonsense Red Bull F1 culture
Sergio Perez has spent most of his career labouring in Formula 1’s midfield, wondering whether he’d ever get another shot at the big time. Red Bull has handed him that chance and, although life at the top is tough, the Baku winner is doing all the right things to get on terms with Max Verstappen, says BEN ANDERSON
What the data tells us about the F1 2021 title fight
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The weighty issue F1 needs to find a balance with
OPINION: After consecutive street races with contrasting highlights, one theme stood out which has become a prevalent issue with modern Formula 1 cars. But is there a way to solve it or, at least, reach a happy middle ground to help all parties?
The changes behind a ‘feel-good’ F1 result in Baku
OPINION: The Azerbaijan Grand Prix had elements that make Formula 1 really exciting – unpredictability and shock results. This resulted in heartbreak for several of the championship’s regular contenders and joy for others who rarely reach the ultimate limelight. And one of those on the Baku podium is riding a wave of form he’s keen to continue
