Spanish Grand Prix 2018 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton dominated the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position to take a commanding victory at Barcelona-Catalunya, leading home a Mercedes one-two finish with Valtteri Bottas in second. The win marked a turning point in the championship battle, with Mercedes beginning to unlock the performance of their troublesome W09 car.

Starting from pole, Hamilton controlled the race from lights to flag, managing his tires expertly in the hot Spanish conditions. Bottas provided solid support in second place, giving Mercedes their first one-two finish of the season and maximum points in the Constructors' Championship. Max Verstappen completed the podium in third for Red Bull, with Daniel Ricciardo setting the fastest lap. The Dutch driver delivered a strong drive to hold off the Ferraris, who struggled with tire degradation throughout the race.

Sebastian Vettel could only manage fourth place after a challenging weekend, while Kimi Raikkonen finished fifth. The result allowed Hamilton to move ahead of Vettel in the championship standings for the first time in 2018, taking a four-point lead. More significantly, the performance suggested Mercedes had made a breakthrough with their car development, addressing the aerodynamic issues that had plagued them in the opening races. The Barcelona victory would prove to be the start of Mercedes' fightback in the championship battle.