Tactical roll of the dice pays off for Hamilton
LEWIS Hamilton perfectly executed a Mercedes pit-stop gamble to beat rival Max Verstappen to victory in yesterday’s Spanish Grand Prix and declared: “There’s life in this old dog yet”.
Hamilton’s hopes of claiming his third win from four races appeared slim when he was left out on old tyres for four laps longer than his rival during the opening round of pit stops at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
However, the world champion’s Mercedes team rolled the strategy dice by calling in their star driver for a second time with 24 of the 66 laps remaining.
Hamilton was faced with a daunting 22-second deficit to overturn, but by the start of lap 60, Verstappen was within range.
The seven-time world champion followed the Dutchman at over 200mph along the pit straight before darting left and placing his Mercedes around the outside of Verstappen’s Red Bull to secure his 98th win and fifth in as many visits to Spain.
“That is what we are taking about, Lewis,” said Hamilton’s race engineer, Pete Bonnington, over the radio.
Team principal Toto Wolff, who watched the action unfold with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one-third owner of Mercedes and Britain’s richest man, threw his arms up in celebration as Hamilton executed the comeback.
Ratcliffe then joined Hamilton on the podium to toast a win which moves the 36-year-old 14 points clear of Verstappen in the title race.
Hamilton’s latest triumph arrived 24 hours after landing his 100th pole – a landmark which led Damon Hill to describe him as one of the most talented people to have walked the Earth.
“There is still some life in this old dog,” said Hamilton, 13 years older than Verstappen. “I saw Damon’s tweet yesterday, and I feel so much gratitude towards him. I remember growing up watching Damon and having, as I do now, so much respect for him. It is definitely humbling when you see people you have admired and watched or taken inspiration from and hearing them say positive things.”
States. The 31-year-old’s confidence started to grow in the middle rounds and he even taunted the Mexican by poking out his tongue during the sixth, but trouble was on the horizon.
With Tyson Fury watching from the crowd, a devastating blow in the eighth caught Saunders near his right eye, which affected his vision and resulted in trainer Tibbs ending the contest.
“I knew what I was doing and I knew what I did with that punch, I knew he wouldn’t come back after I broke his cheekbone. I love boxing and this is what I love to do,” said Alvarez, who has 56 wins, two draws and one loss. “I’m happy and grateful with the fans, happy to come back to normal and break records, even in a pandemic they came out and supported me.”