Max Verstappen stamped his authority and extended his championship lead as he crossed the finish line 2.2 seconds ahead of the pole sitter Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Don’t be fooled by the time gap as the race was a lot closer than it looks. Throughout the Grand Prix, several drivers assumed the lead, but Red Bull’s strategy, particularly in tyre selection, was impeccable and ultimately pivotal. Verstappen now commands a significant 69-point advantage over Norris in the drivers’ championship standings.
F1 Spain GP: Verstappen keeps charging Norris at bay
Neither the pole sitter Lando Norris nor the defending champion had a clean start. While Norris was too busy looking at his rearview mirror to block the Red Bull racer, the track was left wide open for Mercedes’ George Russell to pounce on this opportunity and become the early race leader.
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With Norris trying to find his bearings, after a couple of laps, Verstappen overlooked Russell with ease once DRS was available. The battle between Russell and Norris only played into the hands of Red Bull as Verstappen extended his lead and was in total control of the race.Â
Mercedes called in Russell for an early pit, but the strategy was marred by a slow tyre change. This gave Norris the license to attack and reduce Verstappen’s lead but after two laps the Dutchman came to the pit for a set of fresh tyres. McLaren took a gamble and let Norris stay on the track a bit longer hoping to build a buffer time, but it was a bridge too far.
The Briton drove like a man possessed and overtook Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Hamilton and the battle with Russell delayed him. The McLaren man was gunning for Verstappen and successfully cut down the lead, but Red Bull sensed their lead racer was losing speed and radioed him to box for the soft compound tyres.Â
Norris led the race for a couple of laps but finally decided to pit. He rejoined the race second ahead of Russell. Norris gave it all, but with Red Bull getting the race strategy to perfection, Verstappen won his seventh Grand Prix this season.
F1 Spain GP: First podium of the season for Hamilton
It’s very difficult to comprehend this, but the seven-time world champion managed Lewis Hamilton bagged his first podium this year. This shows what a torrent time both the multiple world champion and Mercedes are having this season. Hamilton got the better of his teammate as it was quite evident that Russell was struggling with the hard compound tyres. Hence, it was a decent outing for Mercedes as Hamilton and Russell finished third and fourth respectively.
F1 Spanish GP podium finishers (Image: Formula 1)
The same cannot be said for the Ferrari duo as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz came fifth and sixth respectively. The team never looked to threaten the top three racers. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri scored valuable points as he took seventh ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and the Alpine duo, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon rounded up the top ten.
