By Ian Lockwood
May 10 2010

Mark didn’t just win the Spanish Grand Prix, he dominated it from start-to-finish. He crossed the line 24 seconds ahead of local hero Fernando Alonso after putting in one of the most dominant displays of the season so far.

“It was certainly a great weekend,” says Mark. “You can’t ask for anything more than to win a race from pole position, and that’s what we did. I’m absolutely stoked, both for myself and for the team because everyone has worked unbelievable hours over the last few weeks. Weekends, bank holidays – you name it, they’ve worked it and I hope this result makes it all worthwhile.”

Every Spanish Grand Prix since 2001 has been won from pole position, so Mark knew going into the weekend that qualifying would be vitally important. And he delivered. The gap to his team-mate Sebastian Vettel was just 0.1s in Q3, but Mark never looked like being beaten to the pole.

“I felt very comfortable in the car,” says Mark, “and it was satisfying to set the fastest time in all three segments of the session. Prior to the start of qualifying, Christian [Horner] said: ‘you probably won’t get to drive a car like this around here too often, so go and enjoy it’. I most certainly did!”

Mark made a perfect getaway at the start of the race and immediately moved to the inside of the racetrack to defend his position into Turn 1. He was never headed and went on to make his only pitstop of the race on lap 17. He was stationary for just 4.4 seconds while the Red Bull Racing mechanics changed him onto the prime tyre and he then spent the remainder of the race managing the gap to his pursuers.

“I knew that Lewis [Hamilton] had got passed Seb at the pitstops,” says Mark. “Even with the nine-second lead that I had at the time, I couldn’t relax because Lewis knows how to drive and he was in a McLaren that was showing pretty good race pace. I pressed home my advantage whenever I knew he was in traffic and was able to increase my lead quite easily.”

Hamilton crashed out of second place with two laps to go, allowing Mark to cruise to his first win of 2010 and the third win of his Formula One career. Alonso inherited second and Vettel was promoted to third.

“I told a few people over the winter that I’d do something a bit different if I won a race this year,” says Mark. “When I got out of my car at the end of the race, the crowd opposite the pits was going mad so I vaulted the pitwall and threw my helmet into the grandstand. It was probably a bit sweaty, but I’m sure someone will have had fun wearing it!

“I’m one of only three drivers to have finished in the points at every race this year and I’m now fourth in the points table, less than one victory behind world championship leader Jenson Button. There’s still a long way to go in the title fight and I’m still taking each race as it comes, but it’s important to be in contention.”

Mark has very little time to celebrate this win because he needs to be in Monaco on Wednesday to prepare for this weekend’s race through the streets. He’ll spend the next few days at his house near Nice before moving to the Principality.

“I’m looking forward to Monaco,” says Mark. “It’s the ultimate challenge for the drivers and the teams, but it’s a challenge I feel ready for. I’m looking forward to it.”