A dominant Lewis Hamilton secured his first win of the season and the 85th of his career with a perfectly-judged victory from pole position as Mercedes reeled off a one-two finish in Sunday’s Styrian Grand Prix.
The six-time champion bounced back from a disappointing display in the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix on the same Red Bull Ring circuit a week earlier with a consummate display.
Team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who won the curtain-raising race, finished 13.7 seconds adrift in second to deliver first Mercedes one-two in Austria since 2015 with Max Verstappen in third.
The paddock seemed to be split again pre-race as some drivers were absent as Hamilton led the protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement by taking a knee.
“It’s great to be back up here and thanks to the team,” said Hamilton.
“This feels like it has been a long time coming after a difficult weekend last time.”Bottas said he had enjoyed his battle with Max Verstappen.
“Starting fourth, this was damage limitation for me,” he said.
“I tried, but we are just a bit too slow,” admitted Verstappen.
Bottas leads the embryonic championship ahead of Hamilton with Lando Norris third.
Verstappen was slowed by slight car damage in the final stages, ahead of his team-mate Alex Albon, who defended stoutly to finish fourth.
