Max Verstappen drove his Red Bull to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, increasing his lead in the Formula One drivers’ championship.
Verstappen started from second place on the grid behind Lando Norris who took pole on Saturday. But the three-time world champion overtook the McLaren driver on the first lap and then passed George Russel on the third lap of 66 and was never behind again.
Norris tried to pass him near the end, but Verstappen increased his pace to cross the finish line first. Norris finished second, followed by Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes.
Verstappen indicated that the decision to overtake Norris and Russell at the start was crucial for him to extend his lead and keep Norris behind.
“I think what made the difference in the race was the start,” said Verstappen. “I took the lead and maintained protection. Afterwards we only had a defensive run.”
Verstappen has won seven of 10 races this season and claimed his third straight win at the Circuit de Barcelona-Cataluña in Montmeló.
Verstappen has 219 points and Norris rose to second place with 150 after surpassing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who is now third with 148 units after finishing fifth this Sunday.
Norris blamed his poor start – when he lost two places – and that left him settling for second place. The British driver took his first victory in Miami in May and was going for his second.
“I should have won,” Norris said. “I had a bad fastball, it was just that.”
Hamilton’s third place was the first podium of the year for the seven-time world champion, who is in his final campaign with Mercedes before joining Ferrari in 2025.
Norris was overtaken from the start by Verstappen and Russell, who overtook his two rivals from fourth position on the grid to surprisingly take the lead in the 600 meters before the first lap.
Verstappen was on Russell’s heels and after two laps he overtook him shortly after his team informed him “this may be our best chance.”
Once in front, Verstappen managed his tires on the tricky Barcelona track, making clean and error-free stops.
