LEWIS HAMILTON has won the Spanish Grand Prix after a brilliant tussle with Max Verstappen in Barcelona.
The Brit strengthens his grip in the Driver’s Championship after taking this race for a record SIXTH time.
- Live result: 1st Hamilton 2nd Verstappen 3rd Bottas 4th Leclerc
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RACE RESULTS
Here’s the Spanish GP result.
Lewis Hamilton’s late charge has given him his third victory of the season.
He needs just two more to reach 100 wins.
Max Verstappen was second and Valtteri Bottas finished in third.
KING OF SPAIN – LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE SPANISH GP
A perfectly executed strategy to win this race as Verstappen had lead from the first corner of the first lap right up until lap 60.
But with seven laps to go, Hamilton passed the Red Bull man for glory. The Dutchman gets a bonus point for setting the fastest lap.
Bottas in third place ahead of Leclerc. Perez in fifth. Ricciardo in sixth.
LAP 63 VERSTAPPEN SETS FASTEST LAP
He is on for a bonus point, which is scant consolation given he was leading until the last seven laps.
LAP 61
Verstappen pits for tyres as he gets new tyres and has a shot at setting the fastest lap and earning the bonus point.
LAP 60
Hamilton gets Verstappen. He passes him in to Turn One and in to the lead.
Good job that all round from Mercedes.
LAP 57
Bottas gets past Leclerc and in to third place. It is Verstappen, Hamilton, Bottas, Leclerc, Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Ocon, Norris, Alonso.
HAMILTON GETS PAST BOTTAS
Back to Hamilton verses Verstappen. The Red Bull man leads for the time being but his tyres are shot.
LAP 52
Bottas told not to hold Hamilton up. But the Finn ignored the order. Hamilton had to pull off an overtake to get past his team mate.
RUSSELL HUNTING FOR POINTS
LAP 49
Verstappen is 16 seconds ahead of Hamilton. Still 16 laps to go.
LAP 48
Verstappen says: “I don’t see how we are going to make it to the end.”
HAMILTON GETTING CLOSER TO VERSTAPPEN
HAMILTON STOPS FOR TYRES
The Brit darted in to the pits at the last minute on lap 44 to stop for tyres.
He will lose time but of course now had fresh tyres. Verstappen now has to get to the end on these tyres.
This is shaping up for a great final.
VERSTAPPEN VERSUS HAMILTON
This is turning into an epic fight. Maybe not the most exciting on track battle but intriguing nonetheless. Final laps will be exciting.
QUESTIONS OVER MERCEDES STRATEGY
After Red Bull’s slow stop of 4 seconds, Mercedes could have called in Hamilton for tyres on the following lap.
Had they done that, he would be in the lead. At the moment, however, he is behind Verstappen but is quicker and on fresher tyres.
LAP 28
Hamilton called in for tyres. It is a solid stop that takes 2.7 seconds.
That has put Verstappen back in front.
HAMILTON HELD UP BY MAZEPIN
Toto Wolff complaining to Race Control that the Russian was holding his driver up.
Hamilton now prolonging his stint on his first set of tyres. It means he will have fresher tyres late in the race.
HAMILTON TURNS UP THE WICK
He has put pressure on Verstappen, who stops for tyres. Red Bull, usually so reliable with their pitstops, make a slow one. Almost four seconds.
That has given Hamilton a huge advantage. He has stayed out on track and is now blasting out the laps on his remaining tyres.
LAP 21
The top two are pulling away from the rest of the field. This is a great battle between them.
Fourth race of the season and the fourth time they have slugged it out. Great stuff.
Ignore the top two and the fight for third – Leclerc versus Bottas – is also close.
Ricciardo, Perez, Ocon, Sainz, Norris, Stroll is the top 10.
LAP 17
Verstappen v Hamilton. Just 1.2 seconds in it. But this is a two-horse race. These two are relentless. Thumping out the laps, despite having a heavy fuel load.
LAP 11 RACE RESTART
Safety Car is in and the racing resumes. Verstappen keeps the lead. Leclerc stays in front of Bottas.
Stroll passes Alonso to move in to 10th place.
UNLUCKY FOR TSUNODA
TSUNODA HAS STOPPED ON TRACK – SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED
He is getting out of his AlphaTauri after it conked out. The Safety Car has been deployed while a crane will be used to recover his stricken motor.
This will reel in Verstappen’s advantage. And give Bottas a good chance of getting past Leclerc.
LAP 6
Verstappen still holds that 1.4 second gap, which keeps him out of the DRS zone. Hamilton on P2.
Leclerc is in P3 and holding off Bottas in fourth. The Finn is like a sinking ship.
LAP 1
Verstappen has pulled a 1.2 second gap on Hamilton. He is absolutely motoring.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
