10 May 2015 – Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg converted pole into his first victory of the season with a dominant performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
While Rosberg led into the first corner, Vettel got the jump on Hamilton and forced the reigning World Champion to try an alternate strategy.
Hamilton managed to jump Vettel with a three-stop plan, as opposed to two, to follow Rosberg home and form another Mercedes 1-2.
As the lights went out, Rosberg made an ultra-smooth start, while Hamilton got slightly bogged down, giving Vettel a run to the outside.
Rosberg surged clear as Hamilton struggled in the dirty air of Vettel's car, prompting Hamilton to make an earlier stop, which was slowed by a sticky left-rear tyre.
Vettel responded next time around and rejoined comfortably ahead of Hamilton, before race leader Rosberg made his first stop from a comfortable lead.
Hamilton then opted to switch to the Hard tyre at the midway point, clearing Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas with ease and posting numerous fastest laps.
Vettel was the next to stop for Primes, followed by Rosberg a few laps later, with Hamilton lapping quickly enough to move into a temporary lead.
Rosberg was released as Hamilton made his third and final stop for a return to Mediums, but Hamilton crucially came back out in second, ahead of Vettel.
Hamilton then set about chasing Rosberg, but with more than 20 seconds to make up, he was advised by his race engineer to back off and save the car.
Vettel took his fourth podium finish in five races for Ferrari, comfortably clear of Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, who just fended of Vettel's team-mate, Kimi Räikkönen.
Felipe Massa was the last driver on the lead lap in sixth, the Williams man recovering from a poor first lap in which he was pushed wide at the exit of the second corner.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was a lonely seventh, ahead of Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, who lost time in the pits when he misjudged his marks and hit mechanics.
Toro Rosso rookies Carlos Sainz Jr. and Max Verstappen soon dropped down the order after their impressive qualifying displays, coming home ninth and 11th.
Sainz Jr. could be making a trip to the stewards, however, after replays showed him passing Daniil Kvyat – who wound up 10th – off track at Turn 1 on the final lap.
Sauber and Force India occupied the next four positions, with Felipe Nasr getting the better of Sergio Pérez, and Marcus Ericsson edging out Nico Hülkenberg.
Jenson Button took 16th in the sole McLaren-Honda to make the finish, ahead of only Manor Marussia drivers Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi.
Button's team-mate, Fernando Alonso, retired from the race after running straight on at a pit-stop, the Spaniard's brakes seemingly giving up.
Pastor Maldonado was the day's other retirement, retiring his car in the closing stages after spending the majority of the race with a heavily damaged rear wing.
While Rosberg led into the first corner, Vettel got the jump on Hamilton and forced the reigning World Champion to try an alternate strategy.
Hamilton managed to jump Vettel with a three-stop plan, as opposed to two, to follow Rosberg home and form another Mercedes 1-2.
As the lights went out, Rosberg made an ultra-smooth start, while Hamilton got slightly bogged down, giving Vettel a run to the outside.
Rosberg surged clear as Hamilton struggled in the dirty air of Vettel's car, prompting Hamilton to make an earlier stop, which was slowed by a sticky left-rear tyre.
Vettel responded next time around and rejoined comfortably ahead of Hamilton, before race leader Rosberg made his first stop from a comfortable lead.
Hamilton then opted to switch to the Hard tyre at the midway point, clearing Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas with ease and posting numerous fastest laps.
Vettel was the next to stop for Primes, followed by Rosberg a few laps later, with Hamilton lapping quickly enough to move into a temporary lead.
Rosberg was released as Hamilton made his third and final stop for a return to Mediums, but Hamilton crucially came back out in second, ahead of Vettel.
Hamilton then set about chasing Rosberg, but with more than 20 seconds to make up, he was advised by his race engineer to back off and save the car.
Vettel took his fourth podium finish in five races for Ferrari, comfortably clear of Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, who just fended of Vettel's team-mate, Kimi Räikkönen.
Felipe Massa was the last driver on the lead lap in sixth, the Williams man recovering from a poor first lap in which he was pushed wide at the exit of the second corner.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was a lonely seventh, ahead of Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, who lost time in the pits when he misjudged his marks and hit mechanics.
Toro Rosso rookies Carlos Sainz Jr. and Max Verstappen soon dropped down the order after their impressive qualifying displays, coming home ninth and 11th.
Sainz Jr. could be making a trip to the stewards, however, after replays showed him passing Daniil Kvyat – who wound up 10th – off track at Turn 1 on the final lap.
Sauber and Force India occupied the next four positions, with Felipe Nasr getting the better of Sergio Pérez, and Marcus Ericsson edging out Nico Hülkenberg.
Jenson Button took 16th in the sole McLaren-Honda to make the finish, ahead of only Manor Marussia drivers Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi.
Button's team-mate, Fernando Alonso, retired from the race after running straight on at a pit-stop, the Spaniard's brakes seemingly giving up.
Pastor Maldonado was the day's other retirement, retiring his car in the closing stages after spending the majority of the race with a heavily damaged rear wing.
Race results - 2015 Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | N. Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:41:12.555 | |
| 2. | L. Hamilton | Mercedes | +17.551 | |
| 3. | S. Vettel | Ferrari | +45.342 | +27.791 |
| 4. | V. Bottas | Williams | +59.217 | +13.875 |
| 5. | K. Raikkonen | Ferrari | +1:00.002 | +0.785 |
| 6. | F. Massa | Williams | +1:21.314 | +21.312 |
| 7. | D. Ricciardo | Red Bull | +1 Lap | |
| 8. | R. Grosjean | Lotus | +1 Lap | |
| 9. | C. Sainz Jr. | Toro Rosso | +1 Lap | |
| 10. | D. Kvyat | Red Bull | +1 Lap | |
| 11. | M. Verstappen | Toro Rosso | +1 Lap | |
| 12. | F. Nasr | Sauber | +1 Lap | |
| 13. | S. Perez | Force India | +1 Lap | |
| 14. | M. Ericsson | Sauber | +1 Lap | |
| 15. | N. Hulkenberg | Force India | +1 Lap | |
| 16. | J. Button | McLaren | +1 Lap | |
| 17. | W. Stevens | Manor | +3 Laps | |
| 18. | R. Merhi | Manor | +4 Laps | |
| Did not finish | ||||
| 19. | P. Maldonado | Lotus | +21 Laps | |
| 20. | F. Alonso | McLaren | +40 Laps |
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