It doesn’t look so good for the Red Bull star at first. After slipping into the gravel bed, he has to deal with a defective DRS system and George Russell. Because there’s no getting past the heavily defending Brit on the route, the strategy has to take care of it. With better tactics and a faster Red Bull, Verstappen takes Russell by surprise.
Leclerc had to retire due to an unidentified engine problem.
“It came out of nowhere,” reveals Leclerc. “I don’t think it was a heat issue because Miami was even hotter. That was a pity. We had put the main focus on tire management and there were also many positive things this weekend.” The Ferrari star has now also had to accept his first zero. World Cup rival Verstappen has already had to cope with two failures.
At Mercedes, meanwhile, things continue to improve. Lewis Hamilton clashes with Kevin Magnussen (Haas) shortly after the start and loses a lot of time because of a flat tire. Nevertheless, he can fight his way back to fifth place. In the meantime, the seven-time champion even wants to give up and suggests that his team take it easy on the engine. It is rejected and Hamilton races into the points. With two laps to go, he was even fourth thanks to a powerful overtaking maneuver on Carlos Sainz (Ferrari). Due to a defect in the cooling circuit, he has to let the Ferrari pass again for safety reasons.
Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix
result
2. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull +13.072s
3. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes +32.927
4. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) – Ferrari +45.208
5. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes +54.534
6. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo +59.976
7. Esteban Ocon (France) – Alpine +1:15.397 min.
8. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren +1:23.235
9. Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Alpine + 1 lap.
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) – Alpha Tauri +1 lap;
11. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Aston Martin + 1 lap.
12. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – McLaren + 1 lap.
13. Pierre Gasly (France) – Alpha Tauri +1 lap.
14. Mick Schumacher (Gland/Switzerland) – Haas + 1 lap.
15. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Aston Martin +1 lap.
16. Nicholas Latifi (Canada) – Williams + 2 laps
17. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas + 2 laps
18. Alexander Albon (Thailand) – Williams + 2 laps
failures:
Charles Leclerc (Monaco) – Ferrari (28th lap)
Zhou Guanyu (China) – Alfa Romeo (29th lap)
Driver Rating
Standing after 6 of 22 races
1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull 110 pts.
2. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) – Ferrari 104
3. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull 85
4. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes 74
5. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) – Ferrari 65
6. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes 46
7. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren 39
8. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo 38
9. Esteban Ocon (France) – Alpine 30
10. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas 15
11. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – McLaren 11
12. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) – Alpha Tauri 11
13. Pierre Gasly (France) – Alpha Tauri 6
14. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Aston Martin 4
15. Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Alpine 4
16. Alexander Albon (Thailand) – Williams 3
17. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Aston Martin 2nd
18. Zhou Guanyu (China) – Alfa Romeo 1st
Constructor Score
1. Red Bull 195 pts.
2.Ferrari 169
3.Mercedes 120
4. McLaren 50
5. Alfa Romeo 39
6.Alpine 34
7. Alpha Tauri 17
8. Hass 15
9. Aston Martin 6
10.Williams 3
