Spanish Grand Prix – The Editor’s Top / Flop
While we were expecting the usual lacklustre spectacle, it was clear that this edition of the Spanish Grand Prix was a breathtaking one, especially when it came to victory. Here are the editors' top and bottom picks.
The TOP 3:
Mercedes leading the way and Hamilton at the wheel: the maestros always at the top.
What a lesson once again from the German team and its champion! Author of his 100th pole position the day before, Lewis Hamilton was the favorite for this Grand Prix, having always won since 2017.
But at the start, Verstappen’s tenacity forced Hamilton to yield in the first corner and start a race in a position he particularly likes: that of the hunter.
Always very menacing but never in the Dutchman’s DRS zone, the Briton maintained pressure while the Mercedes strategists refined a meticulous strategy. Red Bull made Verstappen stop very early to avoid being surprised by their rivals (who had brought in Bottas a lap earlier) while Hamilton pitted four laps later.
Coming back quickly on Verstappen, Hamilton is as close as can be when on the 42nd lap, surprise: Mercedes decides to switch to a two-stop strategy, surprising the Red Bull team!
Hamilton then finished the job by setting the best lap after best lap and overtaking Verstappen a few laps before the finish, just like in Hungary 2019. He thus becomes the record holder for victories at Barcelona with 6 wins, as many as Schumacher. He also equals Senna’s record of 5 consecutive victories on the same circuit in Monaco.
MOST CONSECUTIVE WINS AT SAME GP:
5: Ayrton Senna, Monaco (1989-1993)
5: Lewis Hamilton, Spain (2017-2021)#SpanishGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/ciTGfSqXL6
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 10, 2021
The bosses, no doubt, it’s them!
2. Charles Leclerc’s master class
If he is used to high-flying performances, Charles Leclerc was truly at the top of his game during this Spanish Grand Prix! Starting from fourth on the grid, he brilliantly overtakes a cautious Valtteri Bottas at turn 3 and then hampers him for a good part of the race.
Following the same strategy as Hamilton at the start, Leclerc then did not dare to immediately switch to a two-stop strategy, which may have cost him a podium, as the Monegasque was fast on the Catalan track.
But this 4th place is the best result he could hope for, as he says himself, and it places him in 5th position in the drivers’ championship, one point behind Lando Norris and seven behind Bottas.
If the Scuderia is back in better shape, it is largely thanks to its number 1 driver who once again proved his immense talent this Sunday afternoon.
3. The French, undisputed leaders in their stable.
One might have expected a bit more, but nevertheless, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly scored valuable points for their respective teams.
Starting from a magnificent 5th position obtained the day before, Ocon had a difficult start and lost two positions to Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Pérez. Fighting against Sainz at the beginning of the race, the Frenchman did the best he could with an Alpine that was not very gentle on tires.
On a bold one-stop strategy, he is overtaken by the Ferrari and Lando Norris and finishes his race in 9th place, narrowly ahead of his fellow countryman Gasly.
Gasly, on the other hand, got off to a very bad start in his Grand Prix by receiving a stupid 5-second penalty for exceeding his grid position. Serving this during his first stop, the Normandy-born driver then had an incisive race by climbing through the pack and almost stealing 9th place from Ocon on the line, even though his AlphaTauri did not deserve this result.
That drag race to the finish between @OconEsteban and @PierreGASLY was ????????????#SpanishGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/TS70ExVVgy
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 9, 2021
Not everything was perfect, but there is a lot of positive to take from this weekend on the French side!
The FLOP 3:
The growing disappointment around AlphaTauri
But where has the AlphaTauri from Bahrain gone, which was thought to be capable of playing second fiddle behind the two Red Bull and Mercedes giants? For two Grand Prix, the Italian team seems to be struggling and Gasly appears to be outperforming.
The qualifications were revealing: no car in Q3, Gasly in 12th and a struggling Tsunoda not even making it out of Q1. If the drivers are not entirely blameless, the car seems to be stalling while its rivals seem to be making constant progress, especially at Alpine.
A retirement for Tsunoda (who is not to blame this time as he suffered a mechanical issue) and a hard-earned point for Pierre Gasly clearly show the mountain of work that lies ahead for AlphaTauri to regain its early-season form.
A reaction is expected in Monegasque lands!
2. Sergio Pérez or the Red Bull number 2 syndrome
If the Mexican is doing slightly better than his two predecessors, he is not yet at the level expected at Force India / Racing Point and as a driver for a top team with the pedigree of Red Bull.
Missed the boat on his qualifications, starting from 8th on the grid, Perez makes a good start and climbs to 6th place behind Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren. And that’s where the problem lies: the winner of the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix will remain stuck behind his Australian counterpart for three-quarters of the race!
His overtaking on the outside at turn 1 reminds us what he’s made of, but it was way too late. In the title race, the points missed by Perez will really cost Red Bull dearly even though the situation is not as catastrophic as Alexander Albon before him.
Neat move from Checo ????#SpanishGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/N7aWk33scb
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 9, 2021
But we know the Austrian clan’s low patience, and there is nothing like a Red Bull-style circuit like Monaco to redeem oneself in the eyes of their bosses.
3. Dangerous defensive maneuvers: when will sanctions be implemented?
Raised very regularly by Jacques Villeneuve rightly, the question of the danger of defensive moves by some drivers deserves to be placed at the center of the table.
Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, Nikita Mazepin… many of them have made one or more dangerous moves in their defense that could have ended very badly, especially at the first corner with the significant speed delta.
The zigzags in a straight line, but even more so the late lane changes have become common today, and we should not wait for a serious accident to occur before taking action on this.
Do you find this abusive and dangerous, or are you one of those who want to let the drivers manage themselves in their battles? Come and debate with us in our now traditional Twitch live show “Radio MI” this Monday evening starting at 9 pm!
