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Start: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W09, leads Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF71H, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W09, Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF71H, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB14 and the rest of the pack
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Analysis

Was Mercedes really helped by Barcelona tyre change?

Mercedes' return to dominance in Spain coincided with Pirelli making a significant change to its tyre specification. Were the two connected, and was it a sign of favouritism towards Mercedes?

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There's been a lot of talk about tyres through the 2018 Formula 1 season, but during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend a combination of Mercedes getting back on top and a change in the Pirelli tyre specification prompted even more of it.

Pirelli's decision to reduce the tyre gauge (the tread thickness) is something that can have a major influence on how tyres behave and warm up, and how they hold that heat. It's another learning curve for the teams, so the question is: did this help Mercedes, and why?

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