Lewis Hamilton has cruised to his fourth straight grand prix win overnight, taking victory in the Spanish Grand Prix by 0.6 seconds from teammate Nico Rosberg. Cruised and 0.6 seconds don’t seem to go together but in this case they do. A clean start from pole by Hamilton and alternate tyre strategies meant Rosberg was never likely to challenge for the lead until the dying moments of the race.
And so it proved. Hamilton was never totally comfortable, especially in his middle stint, but it was only ever going to be his race to lose. While it makes for good copy and some nice headlines Hamilton was not seriously threatened for position. He now also overtakes Rosberg to lead the championship race.
Daniel Ricciardo finally has his first (legitmate) podium finish and continues his role as the intermeidary between the runaway Mercedes pair and the rest of the field. Sebastian Vettel finished fourth and reminded everyone along the way that he should not be considered a forgotten four-time world champion. His charge from P15 to claim fourth should earn him most “driver of the day” type plaudits.
Valtteri Bottas was consistent all race and would be more pleased with his P5 if he wasn’t despatched from P4 by Vettel late in proceedings.
Fernando Alonso was the last of the drivers on the lead lap and he ensured Kimi Raikkonen’s renewed Ferrari career continues to disappoint by taking P6 from the Finn with a few laps to go.
Romain Grosjean collected the first points for him and Lotus in 2014 with an eighth placed finish, ahead of the two Force Indias of Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg.
Full results and championship standings can be read after the break.
2014 Spanish Grand Prix final placings
- Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – 66 Laps 1:41:05.155 (25 pts)
- Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – +0.6 secs (18 pts)
- Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing – +49.0 secs (15 pts)
- Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing – +76.7 secs (12 pts)
- Valtteri Bottas Williams – +79.2 secs (10 pts)
- Fernando Alonso Ferrari – +87.7 secs (8 pts)
- Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari – +1 Lap (6 pts)
- Romain Grosjean Lotus – +1 Lap (4 pts)
- Sergio Perez Force India – +1 Lap (2 pts)
- Nico Hulkenberg Force India – +1 Lap (1 pt)
- Jenson Button McLaren – +1 Lap
- Kevin Magnussen McLaren – +1 Lap
- Felipe Massa Williams – +1 Lap
- Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso- – +1 Lap
- Pastor Maldonado Lotus – +1 Lap
- Esteban Gutierrez Sauber – +1 Lap
- Adrian Sutil Sauber – +1 Lap
- Jules Bianchi Marussia – +2 Laps
- Max Chilton Marussia – +2 Laps
- Marcus Ericsson Caterham – +2 Laps
Retired/not classified
Kamui Kobayashi Caterham – 34 Laps (Brakes)
Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso – 24 Laps (Exhaust)
Fastest lap
Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing – 1:28.918 (Lap 55)
2014 F1 world championship – Drivers (Top 10)
- Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – 100
- Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – 97
- Fernando Alonso Ferrari – 49
- Sebastian Vettel Red Bull – 45
- Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull – 39
- Nico Hulkenberg Force India – 37
- Valtteri Bottas Williams – 34
- Jenson Button McLaren – 23
- Kevin Magnussen McLaren – 20
- Sergio Perez Force India – 20
2014 F1 world championship – Constructors
- Mercedes – 197
- Red Bull Racing – 84
- Ferrari – 66
- Force India-Mercedes – 57
- Williams-Mercedes – 46
- McLaren-Mercedes – 43
- STR-Renault – 8
- Lotus – 4