Max Verstappen of the Red Bull Racing celebrates on the rostrum throughout the Spanish Grand Prix F1 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 23, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Max Verstappen steered his Red Bull to victory on the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday to increase his lead within the Formula 1 drivers championship.
Verstappen began from second on the grid behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. But the three-time champion whipped previous the McLaren driver by the primary flip and then overtook George Russell on lap three of 66 and by no means regarded again.
Norris tried to mount a late problem however Verstappen upped the tempo to cross first. Norris was second, adopted by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in third.
Verstappen mentioned that his strikes to get previous Norris and Russell so early proved essential so he might construct a bonus and preserve the hard-charging Norris at bay.
“I think what made the difference in the race was the beginning,” Verstappen mentioned. “I took the lead and had my buffer. After that we had to drive a defensive race.”
Verstappen obtained his seventh win in 10 races this season and claimed his third straight victory on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalonia.
Verstappen has 219 factors. Norris moved into second place with 150, overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who fell into third place with 148 factors after ending fifth.
Norris put the blame on his poor begin — when he misplaced two spots — for having to accept second. The British driver obtained his first win at Miami in May and was gunning for a second victory.
“I should have won,” Norris mentioned. “I got a bad straight, it is as simple as that.”
Hamilton’s third place was the primary podium of the season for the seven-time world champion, who’s in his final season for Mercedes earlier than becoming a member of Ferrari subsequent season.
Norris was crushed from the beginning line by Verstappen and Russell, who whipped round each rivals from his begin from fourth on the grid to take a shock lead after the practically 600-meter (yard) run to the primary nook.
Verstappen was proper behind Russell, nevertheless, and inside two laps he swerved previous him simply after his workforce instructed him “(this) might be our best opportunity now.”
Once forward, Verstappen managed his tires on the powerful Barcelona observe, and his Red Bull workforce pulled off two clear pit stops to keep away from any errors.
Norris confirmed his nice type by chasing down each Mercedes after a tire change. He obtained previous Hamilton and then featured in a protracted duel with Russell halfway by means of the race. Norris swerved previous, Russell counterattacked to edge forward, earlier than Norris lastly obtained in entrance.
But the jousting additionally favored Verstappen, who added to his lead.
Norris turned up the pace over the ultimate 10 laps and was closing on the Dutchman, however he ran out of time and observe. He crossed two seconds behind Verstappen.
Russell completed fourth, whereas it was a foul day for Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as neither Ferrari might take care of the front-runners. Sainz, the Spanish fan’s finest hope for a win, completed sixth.
Norris’ McLaren companion Oscar Piastri was seventh. Sergio Pérez within the different Red Bull was eighth after his begin from eleventh place following a third-place grid penalty incurred in final spherical’s Canadian GP. Alpine pair Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon rounded out the highest 10. Fernando Alonso was twelfth in his Aston Martin.
