After missing pole position by 20 thousandths, Max Verstappen shows his claws in the race at Montmelò and wins the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, tenth round of the Formula One World Championship of the season. This is the 61st career success (the seventh of the year) for the Dutch Red Bull phenomenon, who further extends his lead in the championship and confirms himself as the clear favorite to win the fourth consecutive world title.
Verstappen built much of his today’s triumph at the start, giving way to an amazing George Russell (from 4th to 1st with an amazing maneuver on the outside in turn 1) but overtaking the pole man and main rival on the track Lando Norris. By doing so, the three-time world champion was then able to overtake Russell’s Mercedes, gaining a fundamental safety margin against the British driver from McLaren.
Norris, stuck behind Russell until the first pit stop, was the protagonist of a race that was all about attacking with an alternative strategy thanks to very good tire management and an impressive pace, but was unable to make up all the time lost (at least 6-7 seconds) behind the Mercedes and ultimately arriving 2″ behind the winner’s RB20.
Podium completed in third position by Lewis Hamiltonwho preceded teammate Russell, while Ferrari confirmed the qualifying result by recording a fifth place with Charles Leclerc and a sixth with Carlos Sainz. Decent performance for Oscar Piastri, 7th with the other McLaren, while Sergio Perez did not go beyond a negative eighth place with the Red Bull (started 11th). Alpine did very well, closing the points with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.
2024 F1 SPAIN GP RANKING
1 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull RacingLEADER 2
2 Lando NORRIS McLaren+2,219 2
3 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes+17,790 2
4 George RUSSELL Mercedes+22,320 2
5 Charles LECLERC Ferrari+22,709 2
6 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari+31,028 2
7 Oscar PLATES McLaren+33,760 2
8 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull Racing+59,524 3
9 Pierre GASLY Alpine+62.025 2
10 Esteban OCON Alpine+71,889 2
11 Nico HULKENBERG Haas F1 Team+79.215 2
12 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin1 L 2
13 Guanyu ZHOU Kick Sauber1 L 2
14 Lance STROLL Aston Martin1 L 2
15 Daniel RICCIARDO RB1 L 2
16 Valtteri BOTTAS Kick Sauber1 L 2
17 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas F1 Team1 L 2
18 Alexander ALBON Williams1 L 2
19 Yuki TSUNODA RB1 L 3
20 Logan SARGEANT Williams2 L 2
