Alonso also set a new record by becoming the only driver to win the Spanish Grand Prix from a far down as fifth on the grid, demonstrating how tyre strategy can be used to gain track position. Raikkonen – who used a completely different strategy to Alonso with one stop less – nonetheless ran him close, finishing the race just 10 seconds behind the winner. Raikkonen was the only driver to complete three opening stints on the P Zero White medium before one final stint on the P Zero Orange hard.
And what of the Mercedes pair of Rosberg and Hamilton? They started on the front row, but Rosberg, finished sixth, 68 seconds down on the Ferrari and Hamilton, in P12, was lapped. Barmy stuff. Anyway, thanks for your company today, and I'll see you in a fortnight's time for the Monaco Grand Prix. McLaren salvage its weekend with a double points finish as Jenson Button three-stopped his way to eighth place, but the team called off the fight early on by telling Sergio Perez - close behind - not to waste his tyres attacking his team-mate. As a result, the championship has now closed up considerably with the top three drivers covered by just 17 points.
SPANISH GRAND PRIX, CATALUNYA
66 laps, 307.104km., Weather: Sunny.
CLASSIFICATION:
P. DRIVER TEAM TIME
1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1h39:16.596
2. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus + 9.338
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari + 26.049
4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull + 38.273
5. Mark Webber Red Bull + 47.963
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG + 1:08.020
7. Paul di Resta Force India + 1:08.988
8. Jenson Button McLaren + 1:19.506
9. Sergio Perez McLaren + 1:21.738
10. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso + 1 lap
11. Esteban Guttierez Sauber + 1 lap
12. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG + 1 lap
13. Adrian Sutil Force India + 1 lap
14. Pastor Maldonado Williams + 1 lap
15. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber + 1 lap
16. Valtteri Bottas Williams + 1 lap
17. Charles Pic Caterham + 1 lap
18. Jules Bianchi Marussia + 2 laps
19. Max Chilton Marussia + 2 laps
FASTEST LAP: Esteban Gutierrez - 1:26.217
NOT CLASSIFIED:
DRIVER TEAM LAP
Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 52
Giedo van der Garde Caterham 21
Romain Grosjean Lotus 8
After 4 races:
Возачи: Конструктори:
1. S.Vettel 89 1. Red Bull 131
2. K.Raikkonen 85 2. Ferrari 117
3. F.Alonso 72 3. Lotus 111
4. L.Hamilton 50 4. Mercedes AMG 72
5. F.Massa 45 5. Force India 32
6. M.Webber 42 6. McLaren 29
7. R.Grosjean 26 7. Toro Rosso 8
8. P.di Resta 26 8. Sauber 5
9. N.Rosberg 22
10. J.Button 17
11. S.Perez 11
12. D.Ricciardo 7
13. A.Sutil 6
14. N.Hulkenberg 5
15. J.Vergne 1
