Spanish Grand Prix: Max Verstappen increases his F1 lead

MONTMELÓ, Spain –

Max Verstappen does not want a dominant automotive to remain on track for a fourth straight System 1 title.

The Dutchman proved that on Sunday when he turned in a wonderfully executed efficiency to fend off a hard-charging Lando Norris and win the Spanish Grand Prix.

“We must always have gained as we speak,” Norris stated. “We had the quickest automotive.”

Mercedes and Norris’ McLaren had each closed the hole with Verstappen’s Pink Bull in latest races, and Norris was gunning for a win after having edged Verstappen in qualifying to take pole place.

However the three-time champion muscled previous Norris proper off the beginning grid, overtook early chief George Russell’s Mercedes, after which by no means seemed again.

Verstappen was in a position to muster simply sufficient tempo over the ultimate laps to cross first, whereas Norris needed to accept second place.

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes was third. It was the primary podium of 2024 for the seven-time world champion, who’s in his final season earlier than becoming a member of Ferrari subsequent season.

Verstappen stated that his strikes to get previous Norris and Russell so early proved essential so he might construct a bonus and hold the hard-charging Norris at bay.

“What made the race was the start, taking the lead on Lap 2 and eking out the hole just a little bit,” Verstappen stated. “Lando and McLaren have been very, very quick as we speak. We drove an aggressive technique nevertheless it performed out on the finish.”

Verstappen bought his seventh win in 10 races this season and claimed his third straight victory on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalonia. It was additionally win No. 61 in his profession.

Verstappen has 219 factors. Norris moved into second place with 150, overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, has 148 factors after ending the race fifth.

Norris put the blame on his poor begin — when he misplaced two spots — for having to accept second. The British driver bought his first win at Miami in Could and was aiming for a second victory. Norris rued what he thought-about one other missed alternative after he additionally got here in second to Verstappen on the Canadian GP final spherical.

“I fairly simply had the very best automotive there,” Norris stated. “I simply did not do sufficient (of a) job offline. That one factor value me every thing.”

Norris was crushed from the beginning line by Verstappen and Russell, who whipped round each rivals from his fourth-place begin to take a shock lead after the practically 600-metre run to the primary nook.

Verstappen was proper behind Russell, nonetheless, and he quickly swerved previous him simply after his staff informed him “(this) is perhaps our greatest alternative now.”

As soon as forward, Verstappen managed his tires on the powerful Barcelona monitor, and his Pink Bull staff pulled off two clear pit stops to keep away from any pricey errors.

Norris confirmed his nice type by chasing down each Mercedes after a tire change. He bought previous Hamilton after which featured in an extended duel with Russell halfway by the race. Norris swerved previous, Russell counterattacked to edge forward, earlier than Norris lastly bought in entrance.

The jousting additionally favoured Verstappen, with the seconds added to his benefit proving essential afterward.

Norris turned up the velocity over the ultimate 10 laps and was closing on the Dutchman, however he ran out of time and monitor. He crossed two seconds behind Verstappen.

Verstappen stated he expects extra tight races forward, with the Austrian and British Grand Prix approaching consecutive weekends.

“We’re struggling just a little bit for that outright tempo, and we did not have the very best tire life as we speak in comparison with Lando,” he stated. “I can not actually say that we did one thing unsuitable within the race, however we simply must attempt to discover extra efficiency.”

Russell completed fourth, whereas it was a nasty day for Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as neither Ferrari might deal with the front-runners. Sainz, the Spanish fan’s greatest hope for a win, completed sixth after twice being handed by Hamilton.

Norris’ McLaren companion Oscar Piastri was seventh. Sergio Perez within the different Pink 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.