Yesterday I hinted that whoever first arrived at the first corner of the 2017 Spanish Grand Prix would likely go on to win it, but while Sebastian Vettel managed just that despite starting behind Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes team had more than a thing or two to do about it. Mercedes and Ferrari are split with two wins apiece to kick off the year and there have been 10 winners in the last 10 years in Spain.
Hamilton would be on the faster soft tyres and Vettel on mediums. The Russian GP victor did an excellent job of slowing up Vettel, furiously defending his position to allow Hamilton to sneak up to Vettel.
Having secured his third pole position of the year at the Circuit de Catalunya, Hamilton was passed by Vettel heading into turn one but eventually recovered to overtake the German on the track. This allowed the Mercedes team a free pitstop where they brought Hamilton in for the soft compound tires.
Hamilton made a poor start and Vettel sewpt past him, building a significant lead in just the first lap, and after an earlier stop for the Ferrari than the Mercedes it looked to be Vettel's race. "We were told that the engine could do one more race, but it seems like it could not take it anymore".
Hamilton knew exactly who to thank for his win, radioing the team before he was even out of the vehicle saying: "Fantastic job, guys".
"I didn't say anything bad [to him]".
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 during the race.
He said, "I'm happy to be back on the podium today, it's the first one of the season for me which is nice but actually the race was quite a lonely one".
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Hamilton, a three-time world champion, won the race in 1:35:56.497, claiming the 55th win of his career, while Vettel came in second, just 3.490 seconds off the pace on Sunday, reports Efe.
The Briton's triumph in Barcelona could not have been more different to his troubles here previous year where he crashed out of the race following his opening-lap collision with Nico Rosberg.
Vettel can take heart, however, from the fact that the difference between the victor and runner-up came down to a choice of team strategy that went Mercedes' way.
"I lost out on the start and had to watch Sebastian fly by. It was a tough physical battle with Seb and I'm so happy to get the win", he said afterwards.
Vettel's Ferrari was a mere 0.051 seconds slower than Hamilton in Saturday's qualifying.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished 3rd for Red Bull, more than a min behind the leaders, ahead of Sergio Perez and his Force India team-mate Esteban Ocon.
"Then at the end, I used everything I had left when I jumped into my team and my heart rate hit the ceiling".
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