Max Verstappen is tested in the Spanish Grand Prix, but passes the test with flying colors. The world champion in the Red Bull wins ahead of Lando Norris in the McLaren and Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes.
23.06.2024, 17:13
23.06.2024, 17:36
SDA
Verstappen won on the track in the north-east of Barcelona for the third time in a row. As in the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks earlier, the Dutchman triumphed after having to give way to a rival in qualifying the day before.
Scary moment after the start
The start in Montmeló was a tough one. After just a few seconds of driving, Verstappen, who had started from second place, experienced a moment of shock when Lando Norris, who had started from pole position, pushed him off onto the grass. The beneficiary was George Russell, who first overtook his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and also took the lead after the first corner.
However, Russell did not stay at the front for long after a very good start. Just two laps later, Verstappen overtook the Englishman after the start-finish straight. However, the world champion of the past three years was not as dominant as he had been at the start of the season.
The fact that he fell behind Norris and Russell after the two pit stops did not worry Verstappen. But when Norris came ever closer to him in the final laps, the championship leader had to push hard once again. Verstappen saved a good two seconds of his lead over Norris. Behind him, Lewis Hamilton made it onto the podium for the first time this year in third place.
Norris now Verstappen's first pursuer
Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix for the fourth time. He first triumphed at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya eight years ago, in his first race for the Red Bull team and at the age of 18, which still makes him the youngest GP winner in Formula 1.
With his seventh victory in the tenth race of the season, Verstappen further extended his lead in the championship standings. Norris is now his closest rival, 69 points behind. Former second-placed Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari finished fifth behind Russell in Montmeló. Following his retirement in Canada, the Monegasque also missed out on the podium in the second race after his home win in Monaco.
No points for Sauber again
The Sauber drivers again failed to score any points in the tenth race of the season. Zhou Guanyu in thirteenth and Valtteri Bottas in sixteenth failed to make it into the top 10, which is rewarded with championship points.
Formula 1's journey through Europe continues in quick succession. Next weekend, the Austrian Grand Prix is on the program in Spielberg, followed a week later by the British Grand Prix in Silverstone.
