Verstappen wins third consecutive Spanish Grand Prix as Hamilton earns first podium of the season.
MONTMELO, Spain—Max Verstappen took his first Grand Prix victory at the Circuit de Catalunya back in 2016, and on Sunday overtook Mercedes George Russell on lap three. Despite the changes in the lead due to pit stops, he held on by just over two seconds to defeat McLaren’s Lando Norris, with Mercedes Lewis Hamilton taking third and earning a podium sport for the first time since last October.
Max Verstappen: I think what made the race was at the beginning. I took the lead on lap two, and that’s where I had my buffer. In that first stint, I could eke out the gap slightly. After that, we had to drive a defensive race with Lando and McLaren; they were very quick today, especially on degradation.
Verstappen had to survive being pushed by Norris at the start of the race and into the grass, which gave George Russell’s second Mercedes an opening to take the lead. Verstappen led midway with a seven-second gap, but Norris took the lead on lap 43. The Briton’s tires were giving out, and Norris pitted for fresher rubber, which gave Verstappen the lead for good. With his new tires, Norris began to catch the Dutchman, but it was too late, and Verstappen’s victory was the third in a row at this circuit for the Red Bull driver.
Russell ended up in fourth with the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz (on his home track), fifth and sixth. Oscar Piastri took seventh in the McLaren, with Sergio Perez in eighth in the Red Bull. Alpine scored their second double points in a row, with Pierre Gasly ninth and Esteban Ocon tenth.
Next week, F1 will travel to Austria for Round 11 of the championship.
