SEVEN things we learned from the F1 Spanish Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton dominated from lights out to chequered flag to win the Spanish Grand Prix and extend his lead in the drivers’ championship to 37 points.

It was retribution for Mercedes who avoided repeat of their 70th Anniversary Grand Prix tyre issues and got back to winning ways.

Though it wasn’t a race for ages, there was still plenty to take away as we look at the seven things we learned from Barcelona.

Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix to go 37 points clear at the top

Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix to go 37 points clear at the top

He finished 24 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen who Toto Wolff said was favourite to win

He finished 24 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen who Toto Wolff said was favourite to win

Hamilton proves Wolff wrong 

So much was made of Mercedes’ weaknesses in hotter temperatures after the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

Even Toto Wolff declared after qualifying that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was the favourite for victory at what a sizzling hot Spanish Grand Prix.

As things transpired, Verstappen failed to provide the promised challenge as he burned through his soft tyres fasted than hoped and Lewis Hamilton romped home to victory 24 seconds clear of the Dutchman. 

‘Bring on the heat’ Wolff gloated to Red Bull’s Christian Horner when chatting beneath the podium, as the roles were reversed from last week and Mercedes got back to winning ways.    

Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix to go 37 points clear at the top

Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix to go 37 points clear at the top

Vettel and Ferrari’s divorce turning ugly 

Sebastian Vettel might have been voted driver of the day after finishing seventh, but it was another tumultuous weekend for him and Ferrari in what is proving to be a messy divorce.

The four-time world champion was heard on team radio arguing with his race engineer about his tyre strategy, after being told to race on his tyres, only to then be told to preserve them until the end.

Afterwards the 33-year-old who is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season said: ‘My opinion is no longer important.’

When confronted with Vettel’s comment, Mattia Binotti was not amused and stated the fact that the German was leaving the team meant he was not part of discussion’s on the team’s future.

What promised to be the dream partnership when Vettel joined the team in 2015 is ending on a really sour note.  

Sebastian Vettel is having a miserable final year at Ferrari and there is tension within the team

Sebastian Vettel is having a miserable final year at Ferrari and there is tension within the team

Bottas resigned to Hamilton title win 

Valtteri Bottas is already 43 points behind Hamilton in the title fight and has said his title bid is ‘drifting away’ – after just six races.

It was a terrible start for the Finnish driver who lost two places. He was quickly able to get back ahead of Lance Stroll but he didn’t offer any serious challenge to Verstappen and finished in third position.

With a minimum of seven races left and 175 points on the table there is still plenty to fight for. But with Hamilton’s consistency and the Mercedes incredibly reliable it already looks like Bottas knows it will be very tough to claw the title out of Hamilton’s hands.  

Valterri Bottas is already slipping a long way behind Hamilton in this year's title fight

Valterri Bottas is already slipping a long way behind Hamilton in this year’s title fight

Perez proves worth on return from coronavirus

After missing the last two races after testing positive from covid-19, Sergio Perez had an impressive weekend for Racing Point.

He outqualified his team-mate Lance Stroll in 4th place, but finished behind the Canadian in 5th – only due due to a five-second-penalty for ignoring blue flags when lapped by race-winner Hamilton. 

With 75 per cent of the drivers going in for two stops, it was no surprise as per normal the Mexican masterfully nursed his tyres home and only needed to stop the once.

This was a good comeback for Perez who though his seat is under pressure with rumours of Vettel replacing him, he showed his worth once again on his return after sitting out two races.  

Alex Albon under pressure at Red Bull

Things just get from bad to worse for Alex Albon who was lapped by his team-mate Verstappen and struggled to a lowly eighth position. 

Though this time the London-born Thai driver was not helped by poor strategy from Red Bull who gave him a stint on the hard tyres – which were described by Williams driver George Russell as ‘absolute garbage’ after Friday practice. 

He was the only driver to use the tyres during the race and lost places to Carlos Sainz and Vettel in a car equal to Verstappen’s. 

Albon desperately needs to start pulling out the performances for Red Bull for his own career but he needs the team to not let him down with strategy.  

Alex Albon finished eighth in the Spanish Grand Prix but worryingly a lap off Max Verstappen

Alex Albon finished eighth in the Spanish Grand Prix but worryingly a lap off Max Verstappen

Records keep tumbling for Hamilton…and Raikkonen

Lewis Hamilton secured his 156th F1 podium by winning the Spanish Grand Prix, breaking Michael Schumacher’s record.

The six-time world champion needs just three more wins to tie Schumacher’s record of race victories and looks like he is on his way to tying the legendary German’s seven world championships this season.

Also a shout out to Kimi Raikkonen who has claimed the honour of completing more racing miles than anyone in the history of F1 – which comes to more than two laps of the earth.

The experienced Alfa Romeo driver broke the record of 53,099 miles on lap 37 of the the race, in what is a record even Hamilton might have trouble breaking. Raikkonen just needs five more races to break Rubens Barichello’s record of number of race starts.  

Hamilton's victory was his 156th Formula One podium breaking Michael Schumacher's record

Hamilton’s victory was his 156th Formula One podium breaking Michael Schumacher’s record

Veteran Kimi Raikkonen also broke the record of completing more miles than anyone in history

Veteran Kimi Raikkonen also broke the record of completing more miles than anyone in history

Spanish GP faces uncertain future  

The Spanish Grand Prix only just survived the cut for the original 2020 schedule and after a race which was far from a thriller, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Circuit de Catalunya’s place on the F1 calendar could come under threat again.

It has been the home of the Spanish Grand Prix ever since 1991 and regularly used for pre-season testing.  

There is increasing competition for places on the schedule with Imola, Mugello, Nurburgring and Portimao stepping in this season and potentially hoping to hold further races in the future.

There is also talk of Jerez, which hosted the Spanish and European Grand Prix in the past being added to the calendar later in the year, which could be seen as a future alternative. 

source: dailymail.co.uk