Verstappen the Spanish master as Hamilton returns to the podium

BARCELONA:

Three-time world champion Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday after a decisive early move and an “aggressive strategy” by Red Bull denied McLaren pole-sitter Lando Norris and extended his world championship lead .

Lewis Hamilton completed the podium at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit as the seven-time former Mercedes champion returned to the podium for the first time since Mexico last season.

The race may be closer than the previous two seasons, but Verstappen always seems to pull it out of the bag when it matters most.

It was his 61st career victory, seventh of the season, and fourth at the circuit where he first burst onto the F1 scene as a teenager in 2016.

And it pushed him another step closer to a fourth straight title with Austria and Silverstone to come in the next two weekends.

“I think what made the race was at the start I took the lead in the second lap and that’s where I had my warehouse,” said the 26-year-old.

“I think we did everything well, we followed an aggressive strategy, but luckily it paid off at the end. Very happy to win here.”

Fourth George Russell in the other Mercedes enjoyed a stunning start.

With Verstappen to the left of Norris and Russell to his right at the first corner at the end of the long straight, the pole-sitter went out beaten.

As Norris battled Verstappen, it was Russell, out of sight, who dropped from fourth on the grid to take command.

“I had a bad start. Simple as that. The car was incredible today, we were definitely the fastest, I just lose it at the start,” said Norris, who moves up to second in the drivers’ standings for the first time. in his career.

Ferrari-bound Hamilton, who received a huge ovation from the Catalan crowd on the podium, said: “Unfortunately, like Lando, I made a very bad start.

“It was a good weekend, I have to say a big thank you to the team as they trained so hard on pit-stops and strategy and they were on point.”

Verstappen raced into second from Norris with Hamilton in fourth.

Two laps later, at the end of the straight, Verstappen made the race-winning move.

He was told by the race engineer that “Max might be our best chance” and the Dutch ace needed no second invitation, producing a beautiful pass to deny Russell the lead, edging a second clear of the Briton, with Norris less than a second back.

In the first flurry of pit stops after about a quarter of the 66-lap race, Russell had a slow stop, emerging eighth as Verstappen led by almost five seconds.

Hamilton stopped quicker than his team-mate as Verstappen pitted for a tire change, returning to the track in fourth behind Norris who had yet to pit.

A spirited Hamilton zipped past the Ferrari of home hero Carlos Sainz to sixth at turn one, with contact between the pair.

Norris and his team were trying a different strategy, staying out longer before a new set of rubber.

He eventually pitted for fresher tires to drop back behind Sainz in sixth place.

By the halfway point it was the familiar presence of Verstappen six seconds clear of Russell, from Norris, back in third after a simple overtaking of Hamilton.

A few laps later Norris got the better of Russell after some small talk between the pair and left only Verstappen in front of him, albeit some nine seconds down the road.

Russell pitted immediately as the race entered its business phase, Norris lost Verstappen’s lead.

On lap 45 Verstappen pitted for second, as Norris followed suit, setting up a thrilling conclusion in Catalonia.

Norris had more than six seconds to make up his Red Bull rival with 15 laps to go as Hamilton passed his team-mate to enter contention for his first podium of 2024.

“We have to push all the way now Max,” urged Verstappen’s mechanic over the team radio. He took the checkered flag for the third consecutive year at one of his favorite tracks by just over two seconds from Norris.

Verstappen heads into Red Bull’s home race at Spielberg in a week with a 69-point lead over Norris, who earned a point for fastest lap, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, fifth on Sunday, third, two points behind .