2021 F1, Spanish GP results: Hamilton wins as Mercedes catch Verstappen off guard

·         Mercedes pulls off two-stop strategy reminiscent of 2019 Hungarian GP

·         Bottas finishes a distant 3rd

Hamilton converts 100^th pole into race win

Hamilton continues to rack up records and by taking pole position for the Spanish GP, he became the first-ever driver in F1 history to reach the magic number of 100 pole positions. But he was actually on the back foot for majority of the race as Verstappen made a better getaway to snatch the lead into Turn 1.

The Red Bull Racing driver led majority of the race from there on, having taken his first and only pit stop on lap 24/66. But Mercedes decided to flip the script by switching Hamilton to a two-stop strategy – a move that appeared to catch Red Bull off guard as they kept Verstappen out. Not covering that pit stop may as well have cost Verstappen victory.

Hamilton was left with the task of closing a 22 sec gap in around 24 laps and he used his superior pace on the fresh tyres to do just that. He did briefly lose some time trying to pass his teammate Valtteri Bottas, who was given team orders to not hold up Hamilton. But he caught up to and passed Verstappen into Turn 1, with six laps to go. The closing stages of the race were reminiscent of the 2019 Hungarian GP, where Hamilton ultimately gained the upper hand over Verstappen due to a two-stop strategy.

“It had been the plan all weekend for us to make sure we had two mediums to be able to do a two-stop. Even though a one-stop potentially looked better, I know from experience here that a one-stop is very, very hard to pull off,” said Hamilton.

“I was really conflicted, like, do I come in or do ignore the call and stay out? The team asked and naturally that’s because there’s a great trust between us, but it’s a remarkable job by everyone in this team, through and through. What a day!”

Verstappen sets fastest lap; Bottas settles for 3^rd

Having been passed by Hamilton, Red Bull pitted Verstappen for fresh soft tyres to bag an additional point for setting the fasted lap. Bottas had never really been in the fight for the win and crossed the line a distant 3^rd. But the Spanish GP did offer a glimpse at perhaps a more defiant Bottas, one who isn’t willing to give up track position just as easily.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crossed the line in 4^th place, followed by Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull Racing car. The Mexican did well to climb from 8^th to 5^th, but he finished nearly 48 seconds behind his teammate. Daniel Ricciardo defeated his McLaren teammate for the first time this year, with a 6^th place finish, ahead of Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris and Esteban Ocon. AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly – who had to seve a five-second penalty for being out of position at the start – pulled off a late move on Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll to finish 10^th and score the final point.

2021 F1 drivers’ championship

Hamilton now moves 14 points clear of Verstappen in the drivers’ championship, thanks to his Spanish GP win. The battle between the two will now move to Monaco, as F1 returns to the venue for the first time in two years on May 20-23.

2021 Spanish GP results

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