Spanish Grand Prix (2013) RESULT

The Mercedes of Rosberg and Hamilton are on the front row for the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, with home boy Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari on the third row. Can he catch up?

Mercedes did an impressive job in qualifying yesterday for the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, but even Ross Brawn was hesitant to suggest his team could recreate their qualifying form in the race. And they couldn’t – not by a long shot.

Alonso made his intentions clear at the start, moving from fifth on the grid to third by passing Raikkonen and Hamilton and headed off after Rosberg and Vettel. He got past Vettel on the first pit stop and sailed past Rosberg on his out lap to storm away to build enough of a safety margin to keep Raikkonen – who was on a 3 stop strategy as opposed to Alonso’s 4 stop – in check.

He managed to do exactly that, coming out from his pit stop just a few seconds behind the Lotus if Raikkonen and, with fresh rubber under his Ferrari, took Raikkonen for the lead within two laps and cruised off in to the distance for a great win in front of his home crowd.

Behind Alonso, Raikkonen managed to hold on to second place despite an effort by Massa in the second Ferrari, but Massa’s strong drive secured him third place, and a place on the podium, with Sebastian Vettel managing to bring his Red Bull home in fourth place to get some consolation points, alongside Mark Webber who took fifth.

But it was a sorry day for Mercedes who suffered badly from the tyre degradation that’s plagued them, with Rosberg ending up in sixth place (poor Lewis Hamilton ended in 12th, at one point telling his team, when asked to look after his tyres ‘I can’t go any slower – I’ve just been passed by a Williams!) with Brit Paul di Resta managing to grab seventh place – almost taking Rosberg in the closing laps for sixth – and Jenson Button made a great job of a poor car to take eighth.

The final two points places went to Sergio Perez in the McLaren in ninth (so at least both McLarens got points – not that that will be much consolation to Woking) and Torro Rosso’s Ricciardo grabbed a solitary point for tenth place.

The Ferraris are looking more threatening as the season starts to unfold, and unless Mercedes get a handle on their tyre wear and McLaren get a handle on, well, just about everything, they’re going to be left as also-rans behind Ferrari, Lotus and Red Bull.

Let’s hope Mercedes and McLaren can improve their cars before the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks time.