Barcelona GP Race Report

I had predicted that Hamilton would be in first place by the first corner but the Mercedes cars seemed to have shaken off their bad starts and Russell was away well and leading the race.  The Ferrari gamble on soft tyres for the start did not pay off.  Most people did well off the line but Hadjar went backwards.  With no opening incidents the race would proceed in a fairly boring fashion for 66 laps.

Alonso started in the pit lane, came out and started going around but his team mate was to only do seven laps and then bring his Aston Martin into the pit to retire.

Hamilton was the first driver to pit on lap twelve.  Then Lawson responded and had a double time, over six seconds pit stop.  It was the first time we had seen a poor stop in a long time.  The flood gates had opened and everyone went in, earlier than Pirelli predicted.  Leclerc was left in charge of the race and he pitted at the time recommended.  Linblad, Bearman and Alonso were the three drivers staying out.  

It was another race of attrition.  We were shown Bottas then Hulkenberg retiring in the pits but not Albon who mysteriously was out of the race.  With 25 laps to go, Alonso stopped at the side of the track and Virtual Safety Car conditions were instigated to remove the car.  Cheap pit stops were available, leading to unsafe releases galore.  Hamilton was on a three stop strategy.  Then Albon reappeared; an F1 camera had come loose on top of the car and needed to be fixed.

McLaren were gunning for Antonelli to get a five second penalty for leaving the track more than some number of times prescribed and permitted by the FIA.  Hamilton was now clearly in the lead.  Behind him, Russell had been going well but Antonelli had already shown him that he was up for a scrap and second place.  With five laps to go he went for it and took the place from his team mate, who had started confidently on pole.  Just as these places looked secure, with a rattle and a groan, Antonelli's engine gave up and he pulled up at the side of the track.  A Virtual Safety Car was called for so all the cars would be going slow.  This was doubly needed as Leclerc went through the gravel and into the pits as his power steering  died.  It was all change at the top.

We were informed by double-first-named Harry Benjamin that it was the first all-English podium since 1968.  It was a very emotional win for Lewis Hamilton.  Norris really lucked into third place on the podium.  There were shots of the Ferrari team milling about in the garage seeming unsure what to do when you win.  For them, they have finally realised the prize they paid for when ditching Sainz for Hamilton.

Red Bull (and Racing Bull) should also do well at their home track in Austria but it looks like they just don't have the pace.  Ferrari are really pushing Mercedes and it looks to me like they are going to be the two teams battling it out until the summer break.