2018 F1 Spanish Grand Prix race: Hamilton wins as Mercedes finish one-two

The 2018 Spanish Grand Prix was held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Lewis Hamilton maintained the lead after starting from pole. Early in the race, Haas driver Romain Grosjean spun, collecting Nico Hülkenberg and Pierre Gasly and bringing out the Safety Car. The rhythm then gradually settled, with Mercedes controlling the race through its speed and execution.

Hamilton finished in 1h 35m 29.972s, 20.593s ahead of Valtteri Bottas, to take his second victory of the season. Mercedes secured a one-two finish, further underlining the team’s competitiveness in the early part of the season. The result also provided an important reference for the team’s subsequent set-up work and weekend strategy.

Max Verstappen finished third, holding onto a podium place despite contact with Lance Stroll and damage to his front wing. Sebastian Vettel was fourth. Ferrari ran a two-stop strategy, but he could not regain a top-three position after his second stop. The result also provided an important reference for the team’s subsequent set-up work and weekend strategy.

Daniel Ricciardo was fifth, Kevin Magnussen sixth and Carlos Sainz seventh. Fernando Alonso finished his home race eighth, with Sergio Pérez ninth. Sauber’s Charles Leclerc took tenth to bring a point home for himself and the team. The result also provided an important reference for the team’s subsequent set-up work and weekend strategy.

In the first-lap incident, Grosjean lost control and collided with Hülkenberg and Gasly, with all three retiring. The Safety Car was deployed and the stewards reviewed the incident. Grosjean did not score, while Magnussen brought Haas eight points. The result also provided an important reference for the team’s subsequent set-up work and weekend strategy.

Esteban Ocon, Kimi Räikkönen and Stoffel Vandoorne also retired during the race. Both Williams drivers finished, with Stroll 11th and Sergey Sirotkin 14th. Brendon Hartley had missed qualifying after his FP3 crash but was given permission to start the race, which he finished in 12th place.

Hamilton started from pole and pulled away with a consistent pace close to the fastest lap, while Bottas secured a Mercedes one-two. Overtaking was difficult in Barcelona, giving strategy and starting position a significant influence. Vettel’s extra stop cost him the chance of a podium finish.

Formula 1’s official final classification had Hamilton first, Bottas second and Verstappen third, with Leclerc taking the last point. The table below lists the finishing positions, times or retirement status, and points for all 20 drivers. The result also provided an important reference for the team’s subsequent set-up work and weekend strategy.