5 Talking Points from the Spanish Grand Prix

The Spanish race track has hosted Formula 1 since 1991. It is a 66 lap race, and the circuit has 16 turns. It is a venue that teams know well. And, if you are wondering why we mention the turns and twists of a track, it is because all action is at those turns! From Catalonia, Spain the European part of the Grand Prix begins officially. It is always a battle of supremacy; not just on the track but the driving, the points, the poles – all pile up to make a record for a team or a driver.

With the Grand Prix at the height of its excitement, there were high expectations from fans, teams, and drivers. Strangely, it was a mostly uneventful race, with not much out of the norm happening. Watching the racing for 66 laps that last more than two hours we expect action. It is what Motorsport is all about - it should just take our breath or have us screaming with excitement in our seats – disappointment!

With the usual expectations that come along as we wait for an event, spectators waited for the race to start. Thankfully, there weren’t any significant crashes in the race except for Lando Norris and Lance Stroll who crashed into each other as they were trying an overtake. Both blamed each other, and they left the race but without any injuries and with no point added to their score either.

Even as the race was coming to an end - in those last 15 remaining laps - there was hope that the race would suddenly take a turn and we would get to see some action the way it happened in China. But the race ended almost the way it began, with Hamilton leading and holding his place there in the first position.

Still, we have had a great race and here are some points that are the highlights of the Spanish Grand Prix:

Lewis Hamilton

Interestingly, with the first lap, Lewis Hamilton took control of the race, he stayed ahead and remained there till the end. Even as others came close, he was still calm and kept his place. Bottas came up quite close in the 50th lap but Hamilton stayed ahead giving us a good race, but that is what is always expected of Hamilton. Nice and steady, he kept that up, and as the last laps were coming up, there was no doubt that he would achieve victory. Bottas tried really hard, and so did Verstappen but he was comfortable and in control of the situation from the beginning, stayed ahead and steadfast until he had the victory in his hands.

For Hamilton it is the third win in a row for him in Spain – quite an achievement for Mercedes but what could be expected of a five-time F1 World Champion. Lewis Hamilton makes sure he lives up to his reputation as the best driver of this generation.

Mercedes

The Mercedes Team has not only got the victory position of first place, but it has also taken the second place as well. Valtteri Bottas has lived up to his impeccable driving. There were moments when it was thought that he would snatch the victory from Lewis Hamilton, but he didn’t since Hamilton made sure that his place at the head of the race stayed that way till the last second. Still, he kept his position in second place steadily through the race. In fact, he was as steady as Hamilton. It is a pride for Mercedes to have two such drivers.

Both the team’s drivers have not only lived up to the team’s expectations, but they have achieved results that enhance their records and add points to their overall scores.

Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton have been a good face for the Mercedes team; they strive hard to retain what they have worked for.

Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver really is one of the top highlights of the race. Verstappen drove and gave a great show. It is no wonder he is voted Driver of the Day, not just by fans but by the fact that he narrowly came near to taking the victory from Hamilton. He made sure that he had the Ferrari cars at bay; not even letting them get near. He started the race in the third position, and he gave us two enjoyable hours where we saw beautiful driving. There were moments when expectations ran high, and his driving gave us hope that he might actually be able to get to the front of the drivers, and victory. As it is, he is the driver of the Day, and it is a title that he achieved due to the expertise that he showed on the tracks today; especially in managing to keep the Ferrari team just where he wanted brilliantly,

Action

F1 Grand Prix of Spain F1 Grand Prix of Spain

The middle section of the race had us paying attention and observing the competition; otherwise, it would have been a rather dull time for onlookers as they wait for something to happen. Cars came up close together. Grosjean and Magnussen gave us a show, and for a while, we had no idea who would better the other. For a while they had us waiting, and then Magnussen took the lead over Grosjean in the 63rd lap – with Magnussen “best of the rest.” Renault gave a poor show without garnering any points - terrible for a team their size and history.

They had us at the edge, and this was rather interesting to see. The drivers were trying so hard to garner points even if the issue in question was just a point or two. But points add up to a driver’s portfolio so; they went ahead to get those points adding them up; one by one!

Ferrari

Now, here is a team that is one of the top teams in Motorsport, and there is always anticipation as to the drivers that this team has and what they will have to show on the tracks. In the Spanish Grand Prix expectations were quickly put to rest as it was apparent from the onset that they were not going to get to the finish of the race as winners. They stayed behind, and there was no time during the race that their cars came to be in the first or second positions. It seems that conclusions were forgone from the onset minutes of this race.

Ferrari is leaving Spain - they came fourth and fifth and deducing from that – will they fight back or not and that is in the Monaco Grand Prix? They need to upgrade their team if they are to fight for victory. In Spanish Grand Prix, but the issue is that they did not give much of a fight.

In two weeks we shall meet again in Monaco and another race with all the surprises it could hold.

Edited by Kingshuk Kusari