As it happened: 2012 Canada - The Race

• 18:00

  Hello and welcome to the Factbyte Factbox for the Canadian Grand Prix!

• 18:00

  Two weeks on from Monaco, Formula One has turned up to the island park setting of the Montreal circuit, ready for another race.

• 18:02

  Some expressed disappointment about the action provided around the principality last time out, so are looking ahead to Canada to deliver. It usually does!

• 18:02

  Memories of last year are fresh, after the sport saw its longest race ever with a lengthy rain delay in the middle. However, at the moment, the sun is shining brightly.

• 18:03

  If you've missed any of the action so far this weekend, I can recommend two very brief updates to catch you up.

• 18:03

  Lewis Hamilton dominated Friday in Montreal, leading both practice sessions, whilst Button struggled. https://sidepodcast.com/news/lewis-hamilton-leads-free-practice-canada

• 18:04

  Heikki Kovalainen and Bruno Senna both crashed, but had their cars patched up.

• 18:04

  Saturday was Vettel's day, as the Red Bull driver led both FP3 and took pole position: https://sidepodcast.com/news/sebastian-vettel-secures-pole-position-montreal

• 18:05

  Meanwhile, Pastor Maldonado had what appeared to be a small accident. It has necessitated a new gearbox though, dropping him five places from the 17th position he qualified in.

• 18:06

  The big talk this weekend focuses on the possibility of there being a seventh winner in seven different races. We've already broken the record with six, can there be another?

• 18:08

  2012 Race Wins

  Pos	Driver	Total
  1	Fernando Alonso	1
  2	Jenson Button	1
  3	Pastor Maldonado	1
  4	Nico Rosberg	1
  5	Sebastian Vettel	1
  6	Mark Webber	1

• 18:08

  Tweet from @pauldirestaf1: Race day, going to be a hot one. Lots of fans arriving at the track already, this place is one big party for the GP weekend.

• 18:10

  If you're getting ready to watch the race at home, do join in the comments on Sidepodcast. Lovely people there: https://sidepodcast.com/dashboard

• 18:11

  The driver's parade from Fernando's viewpoint, via @alo_oficial.

• 18:12

  Circuit Data

  Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
  Local timezone	-04:00 GMT
  First race	1978
  Number of laps	70
  Circuit length	4.361km
  Race distance	305.270km
  Start offset	0.000km

• 18:17

  All eyes were on Red Bull this weekend, as they dealt with the rule clarification that forced them to change their floor. A pole position is a good start to showing it hasn't distracted them too much.

• 18:21

  Qualifying Position

  1	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull
  2	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren
  3	Fernando Alonso	Ferrari
  4	Mark Webber	Red Bull
  5	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes
  6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari
  7	Romain Grosjean	Lotus
  8	Paul di Resta	Force India
  9	Michael Schumacher	Mercedes
  10	Jenson Button	McLaren

• 18:23

  Button's qualifying was something of a disaster. He used up all the super soft tyres getting to Q3, and then went out for a lap on the softs. He now has to start on softs.

• 18:24

  After the session, Button said: "Today wasn't great, you'd have to say, and 10th isn't the best place to start, but it looks like being even hotter tomorrow – probably the hottest race of the year so far – so it may well throw up a few surprises for everyone. I still think we can still have a good race, even from the fifth row."

• 18:25

  Meanwhile, further back, Pedro de la Rosa qualified his HRT ahead of both Marussia cars, and it's left him on top of the world.

• 18:25

  De la Rosa said: "Ahead of tomorrow's race I think we can fight with anyone because our car has good speed and is stable when braking, so we aim to make the most out of this."

• 18:27

  The soft and supersoft combination is the same as Monaco. Experts are predicting more one-stop action today.

• 18:28

  Tweet from @BSenna: Looking forward to the race today!! Just about to go in and heat is high here in Canada!! Let's push!!!!

• 18:29

  Thirty minutes to the race start, the pitlane will be opening any moment now. Have you made your predictions yet?

• 18:34

  Grid Position

  11	Kamui Kobayashi	Sauber
  12	Kimi Räikkönen	Lotus
  13	Nico Hülkenberg	Force India
  14	Daniel Ricciardo	Toro Rosso
  15	Sergio Pérez	Sauber
  16	Bruno Senna	Williams
  17	Heikki Kovalainen	Caterham
  18	Vitaly Petrov	Caterham
  19	Jean-Éric Vergne	Toro Rosso
  20	Pedro de la Rosa	HRT
  21	Timo Glock	Marussia
  22	Pastor Maldonado	Williams
  23	Charles Pic	Marussia
  24	Narain Karthikeyan	HRT

• 18:36

  The fabulous @f1wolf provides an up close view. Lovely blue skies.

• 18:37

  Jean-Éric Vergne had a bit of a shocker in qualifying. After crashing his car, he went into the session with a lack of running. He qualified below both Caterham drivers.

• 18:39

  Tweet from @OfficialSF1Team: first corner, indeed the whole first lap and high possibility for SC during the race are factors which could influence the strategy. #F1

• 18:44

  Tweet from @PaulHembery: Off for a grid walk.Hot out there hey. 1 stop , SS ok for 20 -24, then Soft.Unless safety car,or big 1st stint deg.Going for Lewis but close

• 18:45

  Interview with Christian Horner: "Seb had a great day yesterday, seems happy in the car. We know Fernando's going to be quick, Lewis will be quick, Mercedes are there as well. The racing as it is this year, who can tell what will happen in the race."

• 18:46

  Interview with Ross Brawn: "I think the way the track is, strategy and tyres is what the race is about. I think we'll see people start to fall out of position because of tyre degradation and temperature."

• 18:47

  Comment from Will: I think this is the point in the proceedings that I remind you to load your F1 Live Timing: www.formula1.com/…timing_popup.html

• 18:48

  Comment from Will: I think this is the point in the proceedings that I remind you to load your F1 Live Timing: http://www.formula1.com/live_timing/live_timing_popup.html

• 18:49

  Interview with Romain Grosjean: "The sun came so hopefully that will help us. The race is always different from quali, we are usually better. Let's score points and see at the end where we are. We can go for points and hope for points. It's really hot here. In France it's raining, so I prefer to be here."

• 18:49

  Tweet from @sarahholtf1: Blue skies & warm temps are not only in contrast to 2011 but have prompted Ross Brawn to wear a baseball cap & shades. Unusual look for him.

• 18:50

  Interview with Paul di Resta: "We're looking to go forward, but even maintaining eighth is going to be a task. There's some fast guys behind us. The car's been competitive, tyre degs going to be quite high, we'll see how it goes."

• 18:55

  Tweet from @Marussia_F1Team: But it is 43C on that asphalt and the air is at 27! V hot. Or as Charles said to us earlier, "it's very 'ot non?" Sure is Charles

• 18:57

  

  27°C

  Track	45°C
  Humidity	28%
  Wind speed	1.2mps

• 18:59

  70 laps separate us from the winner of this race, and things are about to get underway.

• 19:01

  Vettel leads the drivers away on the formation lap, they're taking it nice and slowly.

• 19:02

  Worth mentioning there is just one DRS zone this weekend, rather than the two of last year. Detection is after turn 10 and activation before turn 13.

• 19:03

  Race started.

• 19:04 Lap 1

  Clean first corner for everyone, they snake around the first complex cleanly. Vettel streaks into the lead.

• 19:04 Lap 1

  Felipe Massa is close up behind Nico Rosberg, hustling the Mercedes driver for 5th place.

• 19:04 Lap 1

  At the hairpin, Rosberg locks up but still manages to cling on to his position.

• 19:05 Lap 1

  Paul di Resta is close behind Massa too, hoping to pick up the pieces of any action in front of him.

• 19:05 Lap 2

  Up ahead, Vettel has stretched his lead to 1.1 seconds, with Hamilton and Alonso behind him.

• 19:06 Lap 2

  Daniel Ricciardo had a bad start, falling back to sit just ahead of teammate Vergne in 17th.

• 19:06 Lap 2

  Bruno Senna is sitting behind Heikki Kovalainen, and is chasing him for position, but the Caterham driver isn't giving it up easily.

• 19:08 Lap 3

  Both Massa and Di Resta have got past Rosberg, dropping the Mercedes driver down to 7th. Behind him, Romain Grosjean and then Schumacher in tenth.

• 19:08 Lap 3

  Race Control: DRS enabled.

• 19:10 Lap 5

  Vettel set the fastest lap of the race, but has now been beaten by Lewis Hamilton. Some early fast laps from the two in front.

• 19:11 Lap 5

  Felipe Massa spins it, he was running really well up in fifth, and has dropped down to 12th!

• 19:11 Lap 5

  Replays show it was just a spin, all by himself, no damage done except time lost.

• 19:12 Lap 7

  Team radio to Rosberg: "You need to do a better job looking after the tyres on traction."

• 19:14 Lap 8

  Driver Positions

  Pos		Driver
  1	0	Vettel
  2	0	Hamilton
  3	0	Alonso
  4	0	Webber
  5	+3	Di Resta
  6	-1	Rosberg
  7	0	Grosjean
  8	+1	Schumacher
  9	+1	Button
  10	+2	Räikkönen

• 19:15 Lap 8

  Rosberg radio informs him he might need to save fuel. Already! Most teams expecting a safety car at some point this race.

• 19:17 Lap 10

  Paul di Resta radio tells him his pit stop window is open - who will be the first driver to dive into the pitlane?

• 19:17 Lap 11

  Team radio to Button: "Okay Jenson, the option runners are showing signs of deg, let's stay with those cars in front."

• 19:18 Lap 11

  Button currently sits in ninth place, one ahead of where he started, and he's following Schumacher closely.

• 19:19 Lap 11

  Gap Analysis

  Pos	Driver	Gap
  1st	VET	1:20.328
  2nd	HAM	+1.5
  3rd	ALO	+2.9
  4th	WEB	+7.1

• 19:19 Lap 11

  Tweet from @Lotus_F1Team: Playing the DRS game for @RGrosjean; Nico ahead has DRS to counter DRS as he's close enough to the car ahead, as soon as he doesn't...

• 19:19 Lap 12

  Massa pits.

• 19:20 Lap 13

  Team radio to Hamilton: "You're quicker than him again, current gap 1.4, so you're getting close to the DRS."

• 19:20 Lap 13

  Good clean stop for Massa, soft tyres going on after he started on the supersofts. If they're one-stopping, that's a long way to go.

• 19:21 Lap 14

  Paul di Resta and Michael Schumacher both pit. Massa feeds out down in 20th place.

• 19:22 Lap 14

  Schumacher has come out behind Heikki Kovalainen, desperately wants to get past him but doesn't make it stick this time.

• 19:22 Lap 15

  Romain Grosjean sets the fastest lap of the race so far - 1:19.634.

• 19:22 Lap 15

  Räikkönen easily sweeps past Jenson Button for 7th place.

• 19:23 Lap 16

  Button pits, rapidly dropping down the order as the field is close in the middle.

• 19:24 Lap 17

  Vettel pits from the lead, as Button returns to the field alll the way down in 19th.

• 19:26 Lap 17

  It looked a tame pit stop by Red Bull's standards, and as Hamilton leads the race, Vettel feeds back out in sixth.

• 19:26 Lap 18

  Hamilton and Webber both pit, Lewis coming in from the lead.

• 19:26 Lap 18

  Alonso is now leading, yet to stop, of course.

• 19:27 Lap 18

  Hamilton has jumped Vettel for position through the pit stops. That could be for the lead, after Alonso and Rosberg come in.

• 19:28 Lap 18

  Alonso stays out for another lap - that's a big strategy call for the team.

• 19:28 Lap 19

  Replays show that Hamilton's pit stop was slow away - he lost about a second pulling away from the box - and he still managed to jump Vettel.

• 19:29 Lap 20

  Fernando Alonso comes in from the lead, and Rosberg follows him in as well.

• 19:30 Lap 20

  Alonso's gamble paid off, with the Ferrari coming out in front of Lewis for the lead. Hamilton is close enough behind him to challenge for position though.

• 19:31 Lap 21

  Going up the back straight, with the aid of DRS, Alonso ducked to the right to cover Lewis, but the McLaren got the position before the final chicane.

• 19:32 Lap 22

  Grosjean and Hülkenberg pit, Romain coming in from the lead to hand it back to the rightful current owner Lewis Hamilton.

• 19:33 Lap 22

  Hamilton's pulled out a gap of 0.7 seconds already - he'll be desperate to get ahead of the one second DRS limit.

• 19:34 Lap 22

  Comment from Bassano: Kobayashi STILL on 1st set of Super Softs

• 19:34 Lap 23

  Karthikeyan spun, causing a brief yellow flag.

• 19:35 Lap 23

  Räikkönen, Kobayashi and Pérez in 4th, 5th and 6th respectively have not yet stopped.

• 19:35 Lap 24

  Yellow flags as Karthikeyan has stopped at the side of the track.

• 19:36 Lap 24

  Kobayashi comes in for his first stop of the day, soft tyres going on the Sauber.

• 19:37 Lap 25

  One to Watch

  Alonso	vs.	Vettel
  2nd	+0.4s	3rd

• 19:39 Lap 27

  Glock receives waved blue flags as Rosberg and Grosjean approach.

• 19:39 Lap 27

  Pedro de la Rosa is pushed into the garage, with plumes of black brake dust billowing from the front of the car. A double HRT retirement.

• 19:40 Lap 28

  Hamilton sets the new fastest lap of the race, we're looking at 1:18.643.

• 19:42 Lap 30

  The field is beginning to spread now. Hamilton is just starting to lap, he's got both Marussia's under his belt already.

• 19:43 Lap 30

  Pastor Maldonado makes his first pit stop of the day, that's a long first stint for the Williams. However, Räikkönen and Pérez are still out there not having stopped yet.

• 19:45 Lap 31

  Pérez's lack of pitstop has seen him gain ten places - he's currently running in fifth place.

• 19:47 Lap 33

  Driver Analysis

  Driver	K Räikkönen
  Team	Lotus
  Position	4
  Started	12
  Stops	0
  Last lap	1:19.091
  Best lap	1:19.091

• 19:48 Lap 34

  Gap Analysis

  Pos	Driver	Gap
  1st	HAM	1:18.083
  2nd	ALO	+3.7
  3rd	VET	+5.1
  4th	RAI	+10.4
  5th	PER	+11.0

• 19:49 Lap 34

  Jenson Button pits from... quite far back... and he comes out on track... still quite far back.

• 19:50 Lap 36

  Rosberg sets a new fastest lap, as Glock is told over the radio to conserve his brakes. Canada is super hard on those brakes.

• 19:51 Lap 36

  Team radio to Webber: "Just hang in there, Mark, we're waiting for it to open up in a minute."

• 19:52 Lap 37

  Tweet from @EliGP: Button could be the new Massa if the new Massa wasn't still very similar to the old Massa

• 19:53 Lap 38

  Tweet from @sarahholtf1: We're at the halfway point & looks like we're watching another one-stop masterclass from Perez - who's 5th. Kimi in fourth, also yet to stop

• 19:54 Lap 39

  Team radio to Button: "Think about the apex gear choice, go longer if you can."

  "I can't, I don't have the grip for it."

• 19:55 Lap 39

  Rosberg pits, returning to the track in ninth and some glorious clear air.

• 19:55 Lap 39

  As Rosberg left the pitlane, he managed to drive through a cloud of cement. Something must have happened in an earlier event to warrant that much cement dust.

• 19:55 Lap 40

  Bruno Senna is the next driver to show waved blue flags. 40 laps in and we've still only got three lapped drivers.

• 19:56 Lap 40

  Replays show Webber missing the apex and locked up his tyres at turn eight, allowing Grosjean to close up behind him.

• 19:57 Lap 41

  Kimi Räikkönen finally pits from fourth place - 41 laps on the one set of tyres.

• 19:58 Lap 41

  Kimi returns to the track just ahead of Rosberg. Nico gets past him in the DRS zone though.

• 19:58 Lap 42

  Pérez becomes the final driver to stop, and the Sauber car comes out in front of both Rosberg and Kimi.

• 19:59 Lap 42

  Rosberg has the momentum to take Pérez's place back, but the Sauber driver has gained the place over Kimi.

• 20:01 Lap 44

  Driver Positions

  Pos		Driver	Stops
  1	+1	Hamilton	1
  2	+1	Alonso	1
  3	-2	Vettel	1
  4	0	Webber	1
  5	+2	Grosjean	1
  6	0	Massa	1
  7	-2	Rosberg	2
  8	+7	Pérez	1
  9	+3	Räikkönen	1
  10	-2	Di Rest	1

• 20:02 Lap 45

  Paul di Resta comes in for his second stop from tenth place.

• 20:02 Lap 45

  Schumacher runs wide off track at turn eight - his DRS is stuck open.

• 20:03 Lap 45

  Replays show it was stuck open when he came in to the pits, the mechanics banging it to try and shut it. He comes in for another stop to try and fix it.

• 20:03 Lap 46

  They're pulling and pushing it in all directions, but it doesn't look like they can get it closed. His race could very well be over.

• 20:04 Lap 47

  Race Control: Incident involving Vergne under investigation - pit lane speeding.

• 20:04 Lap 47

  Race Control: Drive through for Vergne - pit lane speeding.

• 20:05 Lap 47

  Hamilton reports that his rear tyres are going off, expect a pit stop any time soon.

• 20:07 Lap 48

  Tweet from @OfficialSF1Team: ROS in front of #Checo on a used and two laps "older" set of soft tyres. The battle of tyres!

• 20:07 Lap 48

  Vergne pits for his drive through penalty.

• 20:09 Lap 50

  TedNews: "We've sailed straight through the window for where we thought the second stops would be. Rosberg is a good barometer... They all want to try and do one stop if they can. Let's see what happens."

• 20:10 Lap 51

  Lewis pits from the lead, and it's a slow stop for McLaren with a delay on the rear tyres.

• 20:12 Lap 52

  Alonso now leads with Vettel behind. Hamilton third, just about 15 seconds behind them (a pit stop-ish gap).

• 20:13 Lap 53

  Webber pits now from fourth, and he returns to the track eighth.

• 20:13 Lap 53

  Button pits from 15th place. Yes, 15th.

• 20:14 Lap 54

  Hamilton puts in the fastest lap of the race - 1:17.135.

• 20:14 Lap 54

  Top Speeds

  Sector 1	Hülkenberg	254kph
  Sector 2	Pérez	289kph
  Sector 3	Kobayashi	287kph
  Speed trap	Pérez	328kph

• 20:16 Lap 56

  Only Button and Vergne have made three stops, with one of JEV's being a drive through.

• 20:17 Lap 56

  Grosjean is currently sitting in fourth place, just one stop for the Lotus driver so far.

• 20:18 Lap 57

  Rosberg was late into braking at the chicane, cut the corner and was forced to give the position back to Massa. In doing so, he lost position to Pérez as well.

• 20:19 Lap 57

  Massa is now up to fifth, Pérez sixth with Rosberg settling back in seventh.

• 20:20 Lap 57

  Interview with Michael Schumacher: "It's a mix of hydraulic and mechanical system and we need to understand what exactly is the problem. We had once the problem in Bahrain, not clear if it's the same problem or another problem.

  "Maybe the positive is Nico can get some points for the team, at least in the championship we are not completely lost and nowhere. But for the boys on my car, it's certainly disappointing."

• 20:20 Lap 58

  Massa pits for the second time of the day.

• 20:21 Lap 60

  There are suggestions that Ferrari are talking to Alonso in Spanish on the team radio, so they can keep their plans somewhat secret.

• 20:22 Lap 60

  Hamilton sets yet another fastest lap, he is flying at the moment.

• 20:23 Lap 61

  Pérez takes over the fastest lap of the race - a 1:16.889.

• 20:24 Lap 62

  Alonso leads from Vettel, then, with Hamilton hunting them down in third. Hamilton is just 0.3 seconds behind the Red Bull.

• 20:25 Lap 62

  Tweet from @Marussia_F1Team: Timo being retired #brakes

• 20:25 Lap 63

  Recent Lap Times

  L Hamilton
  Lap 53	1:17.244
  Lap 54	1:17.135
  Lap 55	1:17.279
  Lap 56	1:17.217
  Lap 57	1:17.176
  Lap 58	1:17.203
  Lap 59	1:17.366
  Lap 60	1:17.020
  Lap 61	1:17.137
  Lap 62	1:17.159

• 20:25 Lap 63

  Vettel puts up nothing of a fight to allow Hamilton past, the McLaren moves up to second and starts his chase of Alonso.

• 20:26 Lap 63

  Comment from Ryan: New idea, this race goes on for four hours again so Sergio can win.

• 20:26 Lap 63

  Vettel pits from third place.

• 20:27 Lap 64

  Alonso's wing mirrors are full of Hamilton, who has closed the gap to less than half a second.

• 20:27 Lap 64

  Vettel returned to the track in fifth place, as he left the pits black smoke wafted from his rear tyres.

• 20:28 Lap 65

  Lewis passes Alonso and takes the lead of the race.

• 20:28 Lap 65

  It was a nervy couple of corners, but the pass went off without a hitch. Alonso's tyres can't be too healthy.

• 20:30 Lap 66

  Hamilton leads from Alonso, then we have both Grosjean and Pérez - both of whom have only stopped once.

• 20:30 Lap 67

  Romain Grosjean passes Fernando Alonso for second place!

• 20:31 Lap 67

  Driver Analysis

  Driver	R Grosjean
  Team	Lotus
  Position	2
  Started	7
  Stops	1
  Last lap	1:17.854
  Best lap	1:17.264

• 20:32 Lap 68

  Alonso radio was not in English, but suggests they are now worrying about Pérez.

• 20:32 Lap 68

  Vettel bumped into the Wall of Champions sideways on, but continues with no apparent damage.

• 20:33 Lap 68

  Team radio to Vettel: "You're almost four seconds a lap faster than Alonso."

• 20:33 Lap 69

  Pérez sweeps past Fernando Alonso, who has now dropped from the lead to fourth place in as many laps.

• 20:34 Lap 69

  Brief yellow flags as Ricciardo spun and recovered himself at turn nine.

• 20:35 Lap 70

  The last lap begins. The real question is how far back Alonso can fall!

• 20:36

  Lewis Hamilton wins the Canadian Grand Prix!

• 20:36

  That is seven different winners for the first seven races. Bizarre and amazing.

• 20:36

  Romain Grosjean crosses the line second, with Pérez joining them on the podium.

• 20:36

  Sebastian Vettel finished fourth, setting the fastest lap of the race on the final lap - 1:15.752.

• 20:36

  Alonso comes in fifth, I don't think he will be too impressed with that.

• 20:38

  No Safety Car this race, unusual in Canada.

• 20:38

  Race Winner

  Driver	L Hamilton
  Team	McLaren
  Race time	1:32:29.586
  Race distance	305.270km
  Average speed	198.027km/h

• 20:39

  Interview with Martin Whitmarsh: "I was only nervous for 70 laps. It was a long race, when we came in for that stop, we thought it was right, but you never know. All the data told us we were doing the right thing, as it turns out we were. Lewis did brilliantly, fantastic race.

  "This team is all about winning, so to get that in the bag is important to Lewis, I know how important it is to the team."

• 20:41

  Finishing Positions

  Pos		Driver	Stops
  1	+1	Hamilton	2
  2	+5	Grosjean	1
  3	+12	Pérez	1
  4	-3	Vettel	2
  5	-2	Alonso	1
  6	-1	Rosberg	2
  7	-3	Webber	2
  8	+4	Räikkönen	1
  9	+2	Kobayashi	1
  10	-4	Massa	2

• 20:42

  Hamilton congratulates his two podium fellows: "Awesome job for you guys, eh?"

• 20:43

  The national anthem plays out as Hamilton waves from the top step of the podium.

• 20:44

  Retirements

  Driver	Reason	Lap
  Karthikeyan	Spin	24
  De la Rosa	Brakes	27
  Schumacher	Stuck DRS	46
  Glock	Brakes	95

• 20:44

  The trophies are given out, Grosjean doing a little jump when he's handed his silver cup. Pérez raises his above his head with a shout of joy.

• 20:45

  The champaaaaaagne flies with all the drivers bustling forward to pour it over the edge of the podium balcony.

• 20:45

  Lewis cheers on the podium.

• 20:46

  Tweet from @clubforce: Tough afternoon for @clubforce as points were not possible in the end. P11 for Paul and Nico just behind in P12.

• 20:52

  Press Conference Quotes - Lewis Hamilton: "It feels incredible. Firstly I want to say congratulations to these two lads. Also to the team who never seemed to give up. I want to dedicate this race to all the fans out there, who are always so positive and supportive throughout the year. This is where I won my first GP, I knew today would be tough, but I loved every single minute of it.

  "I never had a doubt in my mind that there wasn't a possibility to win. I was thinking that these guys are falling quite far behind, I assume they're doing a one stop, I don't think I'm going to be able to do a one stop... I had a couple of problems pulling away, maybe my fault, but otherwise the pit stops were great. We can keep on improving in every area."

• 20:53

  Press Conference Quotes - Romain Grosjean: "We thought about going for a one stop and see what was going on later on. The question mark was could we go with the option tyres at the beginning... but then the car felt pretty good, when we put the prime tyre... it was difficult because I was fighting with them, pushing quite hard. Finally, when I saw Mark coming in, my tyre was quite fresh...

  It was a crazy end of race, P5, P4, the pace stayed there. The team did a fantastic job. We knew with the heat we'd be better today. It's good for us, and fantastic to be on my second podium this season."

• 20:55

  Press Conference Quotes - Sergio Pérez: "To be honest, starting 15th, the last thing you'd have thought about was to end up on the podium. We went quite aggressive, the stop was very good, the second stint was good. I managed to overtake some cars in difficult manouevres. I saw that the degradation was not so high for me, I could manage my pace well. After such a bad day we had yesterday, we had a lot of trouble with the brakes, today is just great to finish on the podium. Our second time in the points, and our second podium, hopefully we can keep this way. We have been very unlucky, in Monaco for example. It's great to come back and do a podium for the team."

• 20:56

  Press Conference Quotes - Lewis Hamilton: "It's still sinking in, but it's been five years since I won the first time here, but it feels just as good. Again, just massively proud of the team for continuing to push. Feels great to be here on the top step, never take it for granted. This feels like the best race I've had in a very long time."

• 20:58

  Gap Analysis

  Pos	Driver	Gap
  1st	HAM	1:19.240
  2nd	GRO	+2.5
  3rd	PER	+5.2
  4th	VET	+7.2
  5th	ALO	+13.4

• 20:59

  Championship Standings

  Pos	Driver	Pts
  1	L Hamilton	88
  2	F Alonso	86
  3	S Vettel	85
  4	M Webber	79
  5	N Rosberg	67

• 21:00

  Championship Standings

  Pos	Driver	Pts
  1	Red Bull	164
  2	McLaren	133
  3	Lotus	108
  4	Ferrari	97
  5	Mercedes	69

• 21:01

  The fabled Wall of Champions, a little bit battered.

• 21:02

  A race that took a while to get going, but led to a thrilling conclusion, with a surprising podium lineup to finish.

• 21:02

  Lewis Hamilton secured his first win of the year, after seeming more fired up than usual this weekend. That can only spur him on even more for the rest of the year.

• 21:03

  Both Pérez and Grosjean racked up their second podiums of the season, and a good points haul for their respective teams.

• 21:04

  Next race is in Valencia, and I think we all know what that means. This season, however, it could turn out to be a classic. Who knows?

• 21:05

  Thanks for joining me today and I will see you again next time!

• 21:05

  Keep it real, fact fans.