2021 Spanish GP: Masterclass drive by Hamilton to win sixth Spanish GP after beating Verstappen in Spanish duel

The battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship continues in round 4 at Spain. Starting on the front row, both title protagonists battled each other for the lead, but the Mercedes driver overtook the Red Bull driver after pitting early to change newer tyres. With this win, Hamilton leads by 14 points ahead of Verstappen, with Valtteri Bottas reclaims third place in the championship from Lando Norris after the McLaren driver finished 8th place.

- Race facts (from Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team's official website)

Lewis Hamilton (winner) and Max Verstappen (2nd place) in the parc ferme after the Spanish Grand Prix race

• Lewis executed a bold strategy call from the team to record his 98^th victory in F1 following a brave decision to pit early for his second stop on lap 42.   
• Valtteri’s race was compromised after being boxed in at the start to find himself behind Charles Leclerc, yet the Finn completed an impressive recovery drive to clinch P3 and move up to third in the Drivers’ Championship.
• Today marked the 100^th win from pole for the Mercedes F1 Team, becoming only the second team to do so.
• Lewis’ victory was his fifth consecutive at the Spanish Grand Prix; Ayrton Senna is the only other driver to record five consecutive victories at a Grand Prix – Monaco.
• Lewis (94 points) leads the Drivers’ Championship by 14 points from Max Verstappen (80 points) with Valtteri (47) in P3.
• The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team (141 points) lead Red Bull (112 points) by 29 points in the Constructors’ Championship.

- Race results

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)

3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing)

6. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)

7. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari)

8. Lando Norris (McLaren)

9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

10. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)

Fastest lap: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) - 1:18.149 on lap 62

Drivers of the day: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

Full race results

Full race highlights

Read the Portuguese GP's race report here