Verstappen eases to victory despite Mercedes revival

One swallow does not a summer make but there was an undeniable hint of birdsong that accompanied a Mercedes resurgence at the Spanish Grand Prix which will have made their hearts sing.

- Giles Richards

If service remained all too familiar at the very front as Max Verstappen delivered another crushingly dominant pole to fl ag victory, behind him at least the pecking order has been revitalised. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell fi nally found themselves in a Mercedes that was genuinely to their liking.

With Hamilton in second and Russell third with a dashing comeback from 12th on the grid, this was their best fi nish of the season by a country mile and their fi rst double podium of 2023 . A result that had seemed all but unimaginable for the opening six meetings, where they had been outpaced not only by Red Bull but also by Aston Martin and Ferrari.

On occasion it has been difficult to conceive this was the fate of the once all-conquering Mercedes, eight times consecutive constructors’ champions, fl ailing outside the top three, the unstoppable force in an incon ceivable position.