Hamilton finally feeling that winning 'synergy'

Lewis Hamilton chalked up his second win of 2018 in Spain by a stunning 20 second margin on Sunday. However, he admitted that it's the first time this season that he's felt like his old title-winning self.

Hamilton lucked in to victory last time out after his team mate Valtteri Bottas suffered a late puncture in Baku. He felt that he hadn't really deserved that inherited win. But this time out in Barcelona, there was no question.

“Today the car and myself, I felt that synergy which I hadn’t been feeling for the whole year," he said after the race.

"It felt really good today. I don't know how it looked, but it felt special. It felt strong today.

"I was really surprised that no one had the pace to keep up with me. I was pulling away almost a second a lap, so I was thinking: 'Yes! Let's keep this up.' And it remained for the rest of the race."

Hamilton agreed that he was almost back in that old title-winning 'groove' at last.

"I'm nearly in it, I think," he said. "I know that sounds weird, but I mean today was the closest I think I've been in it [in 2018]. I felt really comfortable with the car today

"But there were still areas in which weren't quite perfect and I need to improve and see if I can get more comfortable in.

"But this was definitely the closest it's been to some of the good performances we had last year in terms of how comfortable I was with the car. And I think the more comfortable I am the more the pace shows."

• Race report: Commanding Hamilton comfortably reigns in Spain

Despite winning pole position on Saturday, Hamilton admitted that he hadn't been confident about how Sunday's race would actually turn out for them.

"I really didn't know how the race was going to go," he said. "We got the qualifying right yesterday, but the temperatures were up and down today, clouds were coming over and we didn't know if it was going to rain or not."

The key moment was the start of the race. Hamilton knew that he had to fend off challenges in that long run down to turn 1 if he was going to be able to go for victory.

"I got going and got a good start - which I was really hoping for," he agreed. "I was looking at my starts from previous years here and I've not always had a good start. I've always been contested at the first corner.

"I really, really put a lot of work into ensuring I got a good start," he added.

Sebastian Vettel did manage to use Hamilton's slipstream to get ahead of Bottas into the first corner. Talking with Bottas after the race, Hamilton regretted not reacting faster to help his team mate out.

"I was thinking, shoot - after the first turn I was like maybe I should have gone to the inside and given [Valtteri] some drag," he said. "I think Sebastian pulled out and got my tow, but it doesn't matter."

Vettel looked set for second place until Ferrari called him in for a second pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car. That allowed Max Verstappen to take the final podium place for Red Bull.

"[Ferrari] obviously made a bit of a mistake today with their strategy," Hamilton commented. "The Red Bulls were really quick in the last sector when I was behind Max.

"They're going to be rapid through Monaco and it's going to be really hard to beat them," he added.

Hamilton now has a 17 point lead in the drivers championship, and Mercedes are also ahead of Ferrari in the constructors standings. Hamilton said that the team should enjoy the moment - but also be ready for the fight to come.

“This is when we’re going to start trying to continue to apply the pressure," he said.

"To get the 1-2 is such a great result for everyone. Everyone works so hard at the factory, I really hope they're basking in this, really cherishing this moment.

“I couldn’t have done it without this incredible team. These guys have done an amazing job and I’m just really proud of everyone.

"Now what we've got to do [is] keep applying the pressure, try to work and get more and more on top of it, and that it's hit every single weekend."

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