By Michael Madyira
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen brushed off pole-sitter Lando Norris to claim the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday.
It was some box office entertainment as McLaren driver Norris finished second following a late charge, while Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes claimed his first podium finish of 2024 after settling for third spot.
Taking his seventh win of the season from 10 Grand Prix, Verstappen first took the lead in lap three, leaving Norris ruing a poor start as the Dutchman held off his challenge although the lead changed hands.
“I think what made the race was the beginning, I took the lead [at the start of lap three], and that’s where I had my buffer then in that first stint where I could eke out that gap a little bit,” said Verstappen post-race.
“I think after that, we had to drive quite a defensive race, you know? Lando and McLaren, they were very, very quick today, especially on deg, it seems always the last few laps of the stint, they were very, very fast.”
Verstappen also had to thank McLaren for mistiming both the pit stops of his closest challenger to claim the Spanish Grand Prix for a third year in a row.
Managing well some tyre degradation was also what helped in the Dutchman’s romp to victory; and he made sure Norris’ late charge was not successful.
Late on, Hamilton overtook his Mercedes teammate Goerge Russel who struggled with his second set of tyres late on to claim third.
Russel was fourth while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was just behind him.
Pictured above: Max Verstappen flanked by Lando Morris and Lewis Hamilton on the Spanish Grand Prix podium
Image source: Formula 1
