F1 Spanish Grand Prix: Verstappen Holds off Norris at Barcelona; Hamilton Returns to Podium
Max Verstappen clinched his 61st F1 victory by fending off a fast Lando Norris, with McLaren showing strong pace but ultimately outclassed by Red Bull and the Dutch driver.
By Divyam Dubey
Verstappen continued his dominance in Spain, entering the record books with a remarkable three consecutive Spanish Grand Prix victories. Lando Norris, who qualified and secured pole position, saw his second race win dreams go up in smoke with a slow start. Despite a valiant effort, Norris crossed the finish line in second place, a disappointing 2.2 seconds behind the relentless Verstappen. This race was a turning point for Lewis Hamilton who, after a dry spell, secured his first podium finish of the season for Mercedes. Hamilton's teammate, George Russell, continued to impress, following closely behind in fourth place. A bright and sunny afternoon provided the perfect setting for this thrilling contest at the iconic Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
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F1 Spanish Grand Prix: Race Result
Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Spanish Grand Prix with smart tyre management, securing his third consecutive win in Barcelona and solidifying his championship lead. While other drivers changed tyres frequently, Verstappen saved a fresh set of soft tyres for the final stint, giving him the edge.
Ferrari struggled, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finishing fifth and sixth. Alpine had a solid day, with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon finishing ninth and tenth.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez, starting with a penalty from the previous race, fought back to take eighth place. Haas' Nico Hulkenberg finished eleventh, and Fernando Alonso ended up twelfth.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 66 Laps |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +2.219s |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +17.790s |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +22.320s |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +22.709s |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +31.028s |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +33.760s |
| 8 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | +59.524s |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +62.025s |
| 10 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +71.889s |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | +79.215s |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +1 Lap |
| 13 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | +1 Lap |
| 14 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1 Lap |
| 15 | Daniel Ricciardo | VCARB | +1 Lap |
| 16 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | +1 Lap |
| 17 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +1 Lap |
| 18 | Alex Albon | Williams | +1 Lap |
| 19 | Yuki Tsunoda | VCARB | +1 Lap |
| 20 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | +2 Laps |
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VCARB's Daniel Ricciardo had a tough race, finishing fifteenth, with recent upgrades causing more problems. Yuki Tsunoda finished nineteenth, and Williams' rookie Logan Sargeant was twentieth.
Verstappen celebrated his dominant performance, while Lando Norris regretted his sluggish start, which cost him a chance at victory.
