Postpublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
A man in the Ferrari garage is crossing his fingers. Here we go then...
Summary
Max Verstappen claims fourth win of season for Red Bull after title rival Charles Leclerc retires in Ferrari
Verstappen moves into lead of drivers' standings on 110 points; Leclerc on 104
Sergio Perez P2 for Red Bull, George Russell P3 for Mercedes. Carlos Sainz P4 for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton P5 for Mercedes despite lap-one collision with Haas' Kevin Magnussen
Guanyu Zhou retires for Alfa Romeo
Postpublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Top 10 driverspublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Not only is the championship tussle tight but in the middle of the leaderboard, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas are all separated by just a couple of points.
Image source, ReutersFerrari just edge Red Bullpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
The Scuderia are still in control of the constructors' championship but their lead has been chopped down to six points by Red Bull.
Image source, ReutersPostpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Here go the drivers for the formational lap.
Postpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Lewis Hamilton is the only driver starting on the medium compound. Everyone else has opted for the soft tyres.
Rapidopublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Two DRS zones and a good mix of high-and low-speed corners. The lap record around the 4.675km track is 1:18.149 set by Red Bull's Max Verstappen in 2021.
Image source, Getty Images'Every plan will go in the bin'published at 13:58 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Mercedes' boss Toto Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports: "Whoever makes the tyre melt the least is going to win the race.
"Every plan you have will go in the bin anyway.
"We are aggressive with the two cars because we are a little bit in no man's land. We have a chance for podium."
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
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Josh Earl: Come on Lewis, good start please! I'm feeling a podium in this today
Hamilton dominates in Spainpublished at 13:56 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Spain has definitely been the domain of Lewis Hamilton in recent years.
The Mercedes man has won six races at the Barcelona circuit since 2012, with five of those on the trot from 2017 to last year's grand prix in 2021.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 2019 Spanish Grand Prix was the only time Hamilton didn't start on pole position for his win. His then Silver Arrows team-mate Valtteri Bottas started at the front of the grid instead.
Also in the record books is Max Verstappen's epic maiden victory in 2016 - an event Mercedes would rather forget - and Pastor Maldonado's one and only F1 triumph 10 years ago.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
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Andrew Priestley: With the track temperature as high as it is could we be seeing 4 or 5 pitstops from some teams? Nevermind the fans and drivers sweating, Pirelli will be sweating buckets over the integrity of their tyres.
Postpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
'Degradation' is our word of the day.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
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Jeremiah Kariuki: Reliability could play to how the race ends. Red Bull may be cautious and that can give an easy one to Ferrari. Mercedes can also take advantage of that too.
Jamie: 23 of 31 F1 races held in Barcelona have been won by pole sitter, hoping for 23 out of 32 and we get a home win for Sainz. Surely due a turn of fortune.
Who wins in Spain?published at 13:52 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
The front two today.
Who is winning this one?
Left thumb for Charles Leclerc.
Right thumb for Mex Verstappen.
Image source, BBC SportPostpublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Sergio Perez is being hosed down with water by his physio. Hot, hot and a bit hotter.
'Not here to mess around'published at 13:49 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Mercedes' George Russell, speaking to Sky Sports: "It is so hot out there. I feel for all of the guys in the grandstands.
"For the cars themselves going to be difficult. Red Bull had a problem. We have had a couple of issues.
"We have got to go for it. We are not here to mess around.. It will be two-stop maybe even three-stop."
Postpublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
The Spanish national anthem is being performed by E-Strings, with Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso front-row centre.
Alex Albon is chatting to Sky Sports.
That vibrant red hair is fading fast.
He needs to get booked back in with 'Albono's salon'.
Postpublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, speaking to Sky Sports about the work being done to the rear of Max Verstappen's car: "We had a small issue yesterday and have taken some precautions in consultation with the FIA.
"Everyone is pushing the limits. I am less worried about the wing and more about tyre degradation it is so hot."
'Heat is the big thing'published at 13:45 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writerHeat is the big thing for this race. With ambient temperatures of 36C, cars, tyres and drivers will all be feeling it. Increasing cooling means slowing the car down, so where teams choose to make their compromise could be a defining characteristic. Same with tyres - Barcelona is always tough but the high temperatures make that even more the case. And there are a lot of unknowns. The hard tyre looked slow on Friday. But that has been the case before this year, only for it to turn into a strong race tyre. And Mercedes always like to use it in the race.
Conversely, will someone start on the soft - as Charles Leclerc said was the reason for him going through Q2 on used tyres? He is the only front-runner with a new set of softs available if he wants to use it for an advantage at the start. But will people risk it?
Overtaking is notoriously difficult in Barcelona, but following has become easier under the new rules this year, so will that change? On the flip side, the drivers were saying that in the heat it’s been harder to follow this weekend than previously this year, because the tyres are quickly over-worked.
Postpublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
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End of twitter postget involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 22 May 2022
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Peter: Race winner: Carlos Sainz Other two drivers on the podium: Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen Surprise performance of the day: Mick Schumacher Driver who will leave Spain disappointed: Valtteri Bottas Happiest team boss: Gunther Steiner