Montmeló (Spain) (AFP)

We will not repeat them twice: after conceding the victory to Max Verstappen last week at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes settled their tire problems to win the Spanish F1 Grand Prix on Sunday.

For the Briton, this is the fourth success in six races this season, giving him 37 points ahead of the World Championship lead over Verstappen, and 43 over his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

Starting from pole position and never worried, Hamilton was accompanied on the podium by the two men in the same order, the Dutchman from Red Bull having managed to overtake the Finn at the start.

"I'm a little confused but it feels really good," said the six-time world champion, "so focused" that he did not see the last lap coming.

"It's a real surprise because we had this problem with the tires, but I was very successful in making them last," he said. "We did a lot of research before the race to understand which strategy to adopt and which rubber to use, in order to make them last as long as possible."

Last week, during F1's 70th anniversary GP, the Silver Arrows conceded their first loss of the season against Verstappen, the fault of tires deteriorating too quickly in overwhelming temperatures.

But Mercedes did their homework well and neither Hamilton nor Bottas struggled with their tires during the Spanish round, despite equally severe heat (30 degrees in the air, 50 on the track).

- "Not Lewis' rhythm" -

For Verstappen, there was nothing better to do than second in these conditions, Hamilton having returned to his quiet domination. "I'm happy to be second," said the 22-year-old driver. "It's great to be in between the two Mercedes. I didn't have Lewis's pace anyway."

Little consolation for Bottas, whose start was simply "not good enough", the point of the best lap came to him. After winning the first round of 2020, the Finn still continues to give way in the drivers' standings.

The Racing Points of Canadian Lance Stroll and Mexican Sergio Pérez, back after two races of absence following positive tests for the new coronavirus, finished at the foot of the podium.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr (McLaren), German Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Thai Alexander Albon (Red Bull), French Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) and Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) complete the top 10.

The other two French, Esteban Ocon (Renault), 13th, and Romain Grosjean (Haas), 19th and last, are classified out of points.

Another hard blow for Ferrari, already behind in terms of performance, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc was forced to retire shortly after halfway due to an electrical problem: his engine suddenly stopped while passing over a vibrator.

After three races in three weeks, the paddock will now give itself a well-deserved week of rest, before meeting at Spa-Francorchamps on August 30. Always behind closed doors, pandemic obliges.

© 2020 AFP