Spanish Grand Prix: Max Verstappen denies accusations of Lando Norris comeback to win, Lewis Hamilton returns to podium F1 News

Max Verstappen overcame a comeback problem from the speedy Lando Norris to say a formidable Spanish Grand Prix victory and lengthen his F1 world title tally main benefit.

Sadly, he obtained off to a poor begin and dropped from pole place to 3rd from the primary nook of the race – with Mercedes’ George Russell falling from fourth within the essential opening conflict. Jumped into the lead – Norris tried to regain the lead by means of McLaren’s technique.

However regardless of Norris’ relentless pursuit of Verstappen within the closing phases of the race, he ultimately ran out of laps and completed 2.2 seconds adrift on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the Pink Bull driver more and more aggressive The seventh win of an intense season.

Lewis Hamilton lastly ended his look ahead to a maiden podium in 2024 by ending third due to his excellent driving.

Regardless of falling behind his faster-starting teammate in the beginning, Hamilton made a dramatic exterior transfer previous Russell heading into Flip One after his second pit cease.

Russell struggled on the second set of tires when he entered the laborious compound, whereas others, together with Hamilton, entered the smooth compound and ended up simply forward of fifth-placed Charles Leclerc.

However Leclerc completed fifth and Spanish driver Carlos Sainz sixth, greater than 20 seconds behind the highest two, in a disappointing end result for Ferrari forward of their race in Canada two weeks later. No factors scored.

Carlos Sainz handed Leclerc early however was later repassed to complete sixth within the dwelling race. Oscar Piastri completed seventh within the second McLaren, the younger Australian coming off a disappointing weekend forward of Sergio Perez Perez moved from eleventh to eighth within the different Pink Bull automotive.

Alpine’s unexpectedly sturdy weekend ended with a much-needed double factors for the under-pressure Enstone staff, with Pierre Gasly ninth and Esteban Ocon tenth.

How Norris misplaced the win seconds into the sport

It is typically stated in F1 that you may solely lose, not win, from the beginning of a race, and that is truly what occurred for Norris.

The Briton produced the very best lap of his profession in qualifying to safe his second profession pole place, however inside seconds of the beginning lights going out, the Briton The hard-earned beginning benefit was worn out.

McLaren centered on the within of Verstappen, squeezing the Pink Bull in the direction of the grass, however this solely allowed a quick begin from fourth and the opportunistic Russell to get a slipstream on each of them and put his Mercedes positioned itself on the surface heading in the direction of Flip One.

Russell swept previous the entrance row starters within the braking zone to take the lead, whereas Norris additionally fell behind Verstappen.

Two laps later, in itself an important second of the race, Verstappen shortly snatched the lead for himself as he overtook Russell heading into the primary nook in the beginning of the third lap.

Whereas Verstappen constructed an early hole, Norris was trapped behind Russell and trailed his Pink Bull rival by 4 seconds earlier than the race chief’s first pit cease.

This made McLaren decided to try to go additional than Pink Bull within the first cease (six extra laps) in an effort to regain his footing later within the race.

Keep tuned for extra content material…

F1’s tripleheader continues with subsequent week’s Austrian Grand Prix – with dash racing returning on the Pink Bull Ring. Watch each race reside on Sky Sports activities F1, with the massive race happening on Sunday at 2pm. Watch every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Monthly Membership – no contract, cancel anytime