As was clear after the practice sessions, anything but a 1-2 win for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg on Mercedes at today’s GP in Barcelona would have been a big surprise, and today was not to be the day for suprises. It took the two Mercedes cars five laps to take a 10-second lead on the rest of the field, a lead they were able to grow throughout the race, lapping everyone but the other five drivers among the top 7.

The race itself was unspectacular for the first 60 (of 66) laps, when the team-internal fights we have gotten used to this season started. Alonso was able to pass Räikkönen meaning the two Ferraris finished 6-7, Vettel who made a brilliant race went from 15 to finishing just behind his team mate Ricciardo in 4th place, and had the race been a lap longer, Nico Rosberg would probably have been able to pass Lewis Hamilton and win the race. As it happened, Lewis took his fourth win in a row (his first ever in Barcelona) just before Nico.

Mercedes thus again confirmed their superiority, and Lewis was again faster than Nico, something that is probably slowly but surely starting to put some pressure on the German. It is also clear that the Red Bull upward trend is confirmed, and Ferrari is also looking better. Williams also does well, with Bottas this time finishing 5th, whereas McLaren still struggle.

Unlike his team mate Kobayashi, Marcus Ericsson on Caterham managed to finish the race, but only in last place. It emerged over the weekend that Caterham and Marussia have not secured their financing for next season and their participation is thus doubtful. Obviously bad news for the Swede, whose time in F1 could come to a quick end.

Next we’re off to Monaco in two weeks, where as we all know everything can – and does – happen!