Spanish GP: Fantastic 5th place finish for Bottas

Qualifying for the 2014 Spanish Grand Prix would see Williams Martini drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa finish in fourth and ninth, a great result for the team which would put them in a good position for Sunday's race. Felipe was disappointed with his grid position as he said that he made a mistake on his final lap that cost him time, so it was looking like there was more to come from the Brazilian in the race. On pole was Hamilton followed by team-mate Rosberg. Ricciardo as third followed by Valtteri, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Alonso, Button, Felipe, and Vettel. The grid had formed up for the sixty six lap race and it would be Hamilton who would lead them away on their parade lap. In the race it was looking like it would be a Mercedes dominated event given their pace in the practice sessions and qualifying leading-up to the race.

All the top ten were on used medium tyres while those outside the top ten were on new medium tyres. The only driver to start on the hard was Vergne who was starting at the rear of the grid. The field would return and form up on the grid and the lights would come on and go out seeing the race start with Hamilton leading from Rosberg and Valtteri. Valtteri had made a great start with Felipe running in eighth. Ricciardo was fourth followed by Grosjean, Raikkonen, and Alonso. Magnussen would made contact with Vettel running in fifteenth behind Vettel. Lap two and Hamilton was running 1.6 seconds ahead of Rosberg with Valtteri 1.2 seconds behind Rosberg. DRS was now enabled as Felipe pressured Alonso for seventh. The Mercedes cars were running over a second quicker than the rest of the field such was their domination. Replays had shown Maldonado making contact with Ericsson on the opening lap which would see the matter under investigation by the stewards.

Ricciardo was still running close behind Valtteri and would try to pass at Turn one but just could not make the pass. Grosjean was still in fifth 1.6 seconds behind Ricciardo. Even with the use of his DRS Ricciardo could not get close enough to look at a pass of Valtteri with seven laps completed. Valtteri continued to run in third but was dropping back from Rosberg with the gap 10.3 seconds after lap eight. Kvyat would pass Gutierrez for eleventh with Button also coming through going into Turn one. Vettel was now thirteenth while for Williams Felipe was 1.1 seconds behind Alonso still running in eighth. Lap eleven and Valtteri was now 14.1 seconds behind Rosberg. At the front Rosberg was dropping away from his team-mate now 3.0 seconds behind after lap twelve. Vettel would pit at the start of lap thirteen taking on the hard tyre.

Magnussen was able to pass Gutierrez at Turn one moving into thirteenth as Ricciardo pitted on lap fifteen taking on the medium tyre again. Ricciardo would come back out in twelfth as Grosjean and Felipe pitted on lap sixteen. Felipe would return on the medium tyre as was Grosjean. Felipe was now running sixteenth and Grosjean fourteenth. Alonso would pit on lap seventeen joined by Vergne. Alonso would return in fourteen running on the medium tyre with Felipe now fifteenth. Valtteri was now 20.3 seconds behind second placed Rosberg. Rosberg had closed the gap to Hamilton with it now 1.6 seconds. Lap eighteen and Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, and Button would all pit. Sutil and Chilton also came in as the leader Hamilton pitted on lap nineteen. Rosberg was now leading with Hamilton coming back out on the medium tyre.

Perez and Kvyat would pit from fifth and sixth. Rosberg was now pushing setting a new fastest lap as Magnussen pitted from seventh coming out fifteenth. Hamilton was second 20.7 seconds behind Rosberg. Valtteri was still third 5.1 seconds behind Hamilton. Valtteri would pit on lap twenty one returning on the medium tyre. Rosberg would pit on lap twenty two taking on the hard tyre, running opposite to Hamilton. Hamilton would return in the lead with Rosberg second. Ricciardo was now third followed by Valtteri, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Alonso, Felipe, Vettel, and Hulkenberg in tenth. Rosberg was 3.7 seconds behind Hamilton with Ricciardo 17.0 seconds behind Rosberg. Valtteri had dropped a considerable margin to Ricciardo with the gap now 12.3 seconds. Raikkonen would try to pass Grosjean at Turn one but the Lotus driver would hold his spot.

Vergne would pit from fifteenth on lap twenty six dropping to the rear of the field, only to retire in his pit with an exhaust issue. Raikkonen would pass Grosjean and Alonso would also come through using his DRS at Turn one. Raikkonen was now fifth and Alonso sixth. At the front Rosberg was able to set tyres that would see him close the gap to Hamilton, 2.9 seconds after lap twenty six. Vettel was now ninth and running close behind Felipe. Felipe was closing in onto Grosjean who was seventh. Felipe would pit on lap twenty nine returning in fourteenth taking on the hard tyre. Even with the hard tyre Felipe would go fastest in the first sector. Lap thirty one and Hamilton's lead was 4.4 seconds with Ricciardo now 22.8 seconds behind Rosberg. Valtteri was 11.2 seconds behind the Red Bull. Vettel would pit from tenth on lap thirty four taking on the medium tyre, returning in fourteenth. Felipe was now thirteenth as Grosjean pitted from eighth on lap thirty five taking on hard tyres.

Alonso would pit on lap thirty six from sixth returning on the hard tyre and in eleventh with Felipe right behind the Ferrari. Hulkenberg, Button, and Kvyat would all pit on lap thirty eight. All would come back out on the hard tyre as Vettel passed Felipe for eleventh. Perez would pit from sixth on lap thirty eight seeing Magnussen now ninth with Felipe behind the McLaren. Magnussen was still on the medium tyre and Felipe the hard. Vettel was now 2.1 seconds behind sixth placed Alonso on lap thirty nine. Kobayashi had retired in his pit with a brake issue. Felipe would pass Magnussen for eighth as they started lap forty one going into Turn one. It was looking like Ricciardo now was o a two stop strategy making Valtteri's chances of a podium that much harder. Magnussen would pit from twelfth on lap forty three taking on the hard tyre.

Hamilton would pit on lap forty four taking on the hard tyre returning in second. Raikkonen would also pit also taking on the hard tyre coming back out in seventh. Rosberg would pit on lap forty six taking on the medium tyre returning in second but behind Sutil. Ricciardo would also pit taking on the hard tyres. He was followed by Valtteri who was also onto the hard tyre. Valtteri was now sixth and Ricciardo third. Alonso was fourth and Vettel fifth as Felipe pitted again on lap forty seven. Felipe's pit stop would now see him in fourteenth, again on the hard tyre. Felipe had now being lapped by the leader in what was turning out to be a disappointing race for the Brazilian. At the front the Mercedes pair were swapping fastest laps. Rosberg was now 3.1 seconds behind Hamilton with Ricciardo 37.5 seconds behind Rosberg.