The season was the first time that two four-time World Champions, Hamilton and Vettel, would be competing for a fifth title and was billed as the "Fight for Five" by journalists and fans. Hamilton started the season by taking a record seventh pole position in Melbourne, but finished second behind Vettel, who used a timely virtual safety car period triggered by the stricken Haas of Romain Grosjean to pass Hamilton before successfully defending the position until the finish. After finishing on the podium in Bahrain and finishing fourth in Shanghai, Hamilton won his first race of the season in Azerbaijan, after an error from Vettel allowed Hamilton to take second place, before he inherited the race lead from teammate Bottas who suffered an unfortunate late puncture. The victory gave Hamilton the lead of the championship for the first time in 2018. After the race, Hamilton was late to the podium ceremony to console Bottas. At the next race, Hamilton took his first consecutive victories of the season as he won from pole in Spain in Mercedes' first 1–2 finish of the season. However, Hamilton relinquished the championship lead over the next two rounds in Monaco and Canada.