Lewis Hamilton took his 55th career victory on Sunday, his second at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and second of the 2017 season. The three time World Champion also set the fastest lap of the race for the third time this season - the 50th Formula One fastest lap for the three pointed star.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport now lead the Constructors' Championship by eight points from Ferrari 161 - 153 points while Lewis on 98 points has closed the gap slightly to Sebastian Vettel on 104 points to just six points in the Drivers' Championship.
It certainly wasn't an easy win for Hamilton with Vettel making him work very hard for the victory, but he was thrilled with the result and happy that he could fight back after a dismal race in Russia two weeks ago.
“It's been a really good weekend and a great way to bounce back from Russia. It was the rawest fight that I can remember having in a long-time. I loved it, this is why I race. This is what made me get into racing in the first place,” he said. “This is what the sport needs to be like every single weekend. To have a close battle like that with a four-time champion is awesome.”
“I lost out on the start and had to watch Sebastian fly by. He was so fast out in front and it was such a push to keep in touch with him and not let him pull away. I was able to manage my tyres in the first stint and keep relatively close, then it was tricky to keep up on the Medium tyre and then after the second stop. We came out so close together which was super tight into Turn 1.”
“He didn't give me much space, it was close! I thought Seb would get me at the end of the final stint but I was able to do it. I have to congratulate my team today, with the strategy and the pit stops, as well as everyone back at the factory that has worked so hard to deliver these upgrades, enabling us to be so close in this fight with Ferrari.”
