HAMILTON WINS THRILLING SPANISH GRAND PRIX
Three-time champion’s win closes gap on Vettel
LEWIS Hamilton roared back into serious contention for a fourth drivers’ world title yesterday when he drove to a well-judged victory for Mercedes in a dramatic Spanish Grand Prix.
The three-time champion recovered after losing the lead from his 64th pole position to make the most of key strategic decisions and win with power and precision ahead of championship leader Sebastian Vettel, of Ferrari.
Hamilton finished the 66-lap contest 3.5 seconds ahead of the four-time champion, having blasted past him to regain the lead after 44 laps.
It was his second win in five races this year and the 55th of his career and it brought him within six points of Vettel.
The German now has 104 points and Hamilton has 98.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished third for Red Bull, more than a minute adrift of the leaders, ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez and his Force India teammate Frenchman Esteban Ocon.
German Nico Hulkenberg came home sixth for Renault, ahead of compatriot Pascal Wehrlein, of Sauber, who lost his place due to a time penalty for a pit-lane mistake.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz was eighth, but classified seventh, ahead of Russian Daniil Kvyat who did a superb job for Toro Rosso after starting at the back of the grid.
Every driver, apart from those on the podium, was lapped during an exhausting contest that saw Finn Kimi Raikkonen, of Ferrari, and last year’s winner, Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, crash into retirement on the first lap.
Hamilton’s teammate, Finn Valtteri Bottas, also retired when his engine failed while he was running third.
“Guys what can I say?” Hamilton said on his team radio. “A fantastic job this weekend – thank you.”