Record fifth clean sweep for Mercedes duo as Hamilton dedicates win to young fan

LEWIS HAMILTON revealed the inspiration for his Spanish Grand Prix victory came in a message sent from a young fan who is battling cancer.

Hamilton regained control of the title race after a blistering start helped him to a commanding win in Barcelona.

The five-time world champion showed razor-sharp reactions to pip team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who started on pole, off the line. From that moment on, the Brit cruised to a comfortable triumph that secured history-makers Mercedes their fifth consecutive one-two.

The win means Hamilton, who also scored a bonus point for the fastest lap, now leads Bottas by seven points. And he dedicated his victory to Harry Shaw, who is battling a rare form of bone cancer, following an Instagram message sent by the five-year-old. “Saturday was a difficult day, but I got this great message from a young kid called Harry and he just became my spirit – that was my inspiration,” said Hamilton. “When I woke up this morning, I was a bit lost and kind of, ‘How’s today going to go?’, then I saw his message and I was like, ‘I see you Harry, I’ve got you’.

“I want to dedicate this one to Harry. If you’re watching, sending you the love.”

Hamilton did Harry proud with a stunning performance, managing to put his Mercedes alongside team-mate Bottas as soon as the lights went out. He made the move stick on the charge to the opening bend, showing awareness to avoid a collision before keeping his nose clean for the remainder of the race.

“It was an interesting start and very, very close,” Hamilton added. “I knew Valterri would brake super-deep, so it wasn’t a replay of what happened in Baku. I just have to put it down to this incredible team – this is history in the making to have five one-twos.”

Even the introduction of a safety car with 20 laps to run, brought out after British teenager Lando Norris crashed with Lance Stroll, couldn’t help Bottas – who’d secured pole with a dominant display – mount a challenge for victory.

Mercedes already appear to be walking away with both titles, after Ferrari yet again failed to deliver as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium.

The Italian squad came to Spain with an upgraded engine, but they were never in the fight for glory as Sebastian Vettel came fourth ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc.