Barcelona: Lewis Hamilton returned to the top of the Formula One (F1) world championship Sunday by winning the Spanish Grand Prix in a fifth successive one-two for Mercedes.
The 76th victory of the five times World Champion’s career, and third of the season, sent Hamilton seven points clear of Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas after five of the 21 races. The Briton took an extra point for the fastest lap of the race.
Max Verstappen finished third for Honda-powered Red Bull, ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc. Verstappen’s Red Bulll teammate Pierre Gasly finished sixth ahead of Kevin Magnussen of Haas. Carlos Sainz of McLaren ended eighth while Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso and Magnussen’s teammate Romain Grosjean round up the top 10.
However, Hamilton dedicated his triumph to a young child who is battling cancer. The Briton explained how a message from five-year-old Harry Shaw, who is fighting against Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, gave him extra inspiration.
“Yesterday was a difficult day but I arrived today (Sunday) and I got this great message from this young kid called Harry and he just became my spirit, that was my inspiration,” said Hamilton said.
“I want to dedicate this one to Harry. If you’re watching, sending you the love.” Hamilton added: “So many people sent such great messages out there and everybody loved the message he sent me. It means a lot to me. He could have chosen any other driver, of course, and on the most difficult of days to have sent a message like that is very humbling and much appreciated.”