Spanish Grand Prix – Race

After two red flags in qualifying and two penalties (VER for unsafe release; VET for gearbox change) the provisional grid is: HAM, ROS, RIC, BOT, GRO, RAI, ALO, BUT, MAS, HUL, PER, KVY, GUT, MAG, VET*, SUT, CHI, BIA, ERI, KOB, VER*, MAL**.
**MAL failed to set a Q1 time, races at stewards’ discretion.

Tyre choices are prime=hard (orange lettering) and option=medium (white)
Despite his penalty dropping him to P15 on the grid, VET must start on the same tyres that he used in Q3.

Air temperature 24°C; track 37°C; wind 2.8m/s; dry and windy

Mechanics leave the grid
Looks like everyone except VER starting on the option tyres

HAM leads everyone away on the formation lap
Remember DRS is disabled until lap 3
Grid forms up again
MAL takes up the final spot

01/66: GRO locks up into Turn 1
BOT takes P3 from RIC
MAG runs a little wide; contact with VET?

02: HAM, ROS, BOT, RIC, GRO, RAI, ALO, MAS, HUL, PER
VET still down in the midfield
Radio from MAG checking his front wing after contact with VET

03: HAM fastest lap 1:32.010
DRS enabled
MAS putting pressure on ALO for P7

04: Replay of MAL hitting ERI

05/66: HAM, ROS, BOT, RIC, GRO, RAI, ALO, MAS, HUL, PER
Incident involving cars 13 (MAL) and 9 (ERI) under investigation – causing a collision

06: VET still down in P14, behind BUT

07: RIC takes a look inside BOT but can’t make it work

08: HAM leads his teammate by 1.8secs; BOT is a further 10secs down the road
Radio from RIC – backing off for a couple of laps to rest his tyres

09: BUT passes GUT for P12
GUT locks up as VET closes on him

10/66: HAM, ROS, BOT, RIC, GRO, RAI, ALO, MAS, HUL, PER
5-second stop/go penalty for MAL for causing the collision with ERI
VET takes P13 from GUT

11: HAM f/lap 1:31.776
ALO closing on his teammate RAI’s tail
Radio for BUT – Plan A is good

12: VET harrying BUT again

13: VET first to stop; switches to primes; rejoins P21
(MAL yet to serve his penalty)

14: Radio from ROS – no graining, options seem fine
MAG fairly easy pass on GUT for P13

15/66: RIC pits from P4; front wing adjustment; stays on primes; rejoins P12

16: GRO pits, followed by MAS; clean stops
MAL pits too; he’ll have to serve his 5-sec stop/go penalty
RIC uses fresh tyres and DRS to pass BUT for P9

17: ALO pits; new options; rejoins P14

18: Radio for HAM – “won’t be long now”; “push, push”
RAI pits, as do BUT & SUT
CHI pits too
RAI rejoins just inches ahead of ALO

19: HAM pits from P1; front wing adjustment; more options; steady stop; safely in P2
Replay shows HAM’s front left was slow coming off

20/66: ROS f/lap 1:31.667
ROS, HAM, BOT, RIC, MAG, GRO, RAI, ALO, MAS, VET, HUL but some have yet to pit
MAG pits

21: HAM f/lap 1:31.214
BOT pits; rejoins behind RIC

22: ROS pits; primes; good stop; rejoins behind HAM
With one Mercedes on options, one on primes, it’s a chance to compare the compounds

23: HAM f/lap 1:30.804

24: RAI attacking GRO for P5; GRO fights back

25/66: HAM, ROS, RIC, BOT, GRO, RAI, ALO, MAS, VET, HUL; no retirements
Radio for VER – exhaust problem; box
RAI attacking GRO again; makes it stick this time
VER pits; into the garage

26: ALO lining up GRO now

28: Radio from HAM – complaining of too much oversteer

29: Radio from HAM – “rear end is everywhere”
MAS pits – early 2nd stop

30/66: HAM, ROS, RIC, BOT, RAI, ALO, GRO, VET, HUL, PER
HAM continues to open his lead

31: Radio for BUT – adjust brake balance

32: HAM leads ROS by 4.5secs; another 21sec wait until RIC crosses the line, then BOT 9sec behind

33 = half distance: ROS f/lap 1:30.763

34: VET pits; options; rejoins P14
GRO pits too

35/66: HAM, ROS, RIC, BOT, RAI, ALO, HUL, PER, BUT, KVY
KOB runs wide in Turn 1
Radio from KOB – “I lost the brake”!

36: KOB and ALO into the pits
VET f/lap 1:29.774

37: KOB pushed into the garage

38: HUL, BUT, KVY all pit; so does GUT
ALO passes MAG
VET inside MAS and then MAG

39: Incident involving cars 9 (ERI) and 7 (RAI) under investigation – ignoring blue flags
Radio for HAM – “zero to ROS” (no change in gap); HAM asks “where have you been for the past laps?”; “letting you get through traffic”

40/66: HAM, ROS, RIC, BOT, RAI, ALO, VET, MAG, MAS, GRO; retirements: KOB, VER
MAS uses DRS to pass MAG

41: HAM laps BUT who’s down in P13

42: Radio for HAM – “box, box”; “3 turns down” (wing adjustment)
Incident involving cars 9 (ERI) and 7 (RAI) – no further action

43: HAM doesn’t pit; mechanics take tyres back into garage to put them back in the warming blankets

44: HAM pits from P1; primes; another steady stop
Radio from ROS – “losing tyres to graining”
RAI pits

45/66: ROS, HAM, RIC, BOT, ALO, VET, RAI, MAS, GRO, HUL

46: ROS pits; options
Radio from HAM asking about his gap and questioning the strategy
RIC pits from P3
BOT pits too
Everyone has now made 2 stops but some are on 3-stop strategy

47: Radio from HAM again; told to just knuckle down!
MAS pits

48: HAM leads ROS by 4.6secs; RIC is over 35secs behind ROS

49: PER right on the tail of his teammate HUL

50/66: HAM, ROS, RIC, ALO, VET, BOT, RAI, GRO, HUL, PER; retirements: KOB, VER
HAM f/lap 1:29.759

51: ROS f/lap 1:29.247
HAM lapping MAS in P14

52: MAG takes P12 from KVY
ROS f/lap 1:29.236
PER attacks HUL – takes P9 from his teammate

53: ROS has closed to 2.0secs behind his teammate
Radio for VET – asked to change a setting; “negative; going downhill with the tyres”
VET pits; options; rejoins P7

54: ALO pits; options; rejoins right behind VET
KVY pits

55/66: HAM, ROS, RIC, BOT, RAI, VET, ALO, GRO, PER, HUL
HAM has opened his lead to 2.6sec
VET f/lap 1:28.942

56: VET f/lap 1:28.918
Radio from HAM – “left graining”

57: ROS takes a little out of the gap
VET closing right up on RAI
VET dives down the inside of RAI – takes P5
Radio for HAM – brake balance adjustment

58: Part of GUT’s front wing comes of as he brakes for Turn 1
HAM’s lead under 2sec
Radio for VET – “close the gap progressively – need some tyres left”

59: HAM lead down to 1.5sec
Radio for ROS – think about your overtaking strategy
HAM closing on two backmarkers

60/66: HAM, ROS, RIC, BOT, VET, RAI, ALO, GRO, PER, HUL; retirements: KOB, VER
Radio for HAM telling him his time loss was mid-exit turn 3
ALO barreling up behind teammate RAI
ROS under 1sec behind HAM

61: HAM brings the lead back up to 1.3sec
ALO on the rear wing of RAI

62/66 = 5 laps remaining: Best battles are between the two Mercedes and between the two Ferraris
RAI holding off ALO
VET closing on BOT

63: VET on the gearbox of BOT – harrying him for P4
Radio for VET – “use your head”
RAI defends into Turn 1 as ALO attacks

64: ALO takes P6 from his teammate – real racing, not team orders
ROS hovering around 1sec behind HAM
Tiny error from HAM
Radio for CHI – oil pressure problem

65/66 = 2 laps left: HAM, ROS, RIC, VET, BOT, ALO, RAI, GRO, PER, HUL
Is ROS waiting as late as possible to reduce the chance of HAM fighting back?
Small lock up from ROS
Radio from HAM – “more feedback please”

66 = final lap: HAM leads his teammate by 0.6sec
ROS locks up a little
You can hear the crowd cheering!

HAM weaves out of the final turn and takes the chequered flag
ROS crosses the line 0.5sec behind his teammate

Provisional result: HAM, ROS, RIC, VET, BOT, ALO, RAI, GRO, PER, HUL; BUT, MAG, MAS, KVY, MAL, GUT, SUT, BIA, CHI, ERI
DNF: KOB, VER

Atmosphere in the pre-podium room seems a little tense – not much interaction between HAM and ROS, unlike after their battle a couple of races back.

RIC very pleased to be on the podium again; hopefully he’ll get to keep his position this time!

Podium interviews with Eddie Jordan
HAM – Nico was faster; needed lots of help to find time; changing settings up and down
ROS – probably needed one more lap to attack Lewis
RIC – EJ pointed out he was 50sec behind the Mercedes

Another great race, especially those last laps with the multiple battles at the front.