Qatar tribune DPA Barcelona World champion Max Verstappen completed a Formula One Spanish Grand Prix winning hat-trick on Sunday when he capitalized on a poor start from frustrated pole sitter Lando Norris. McLaren’s Norris dropped to third into turn one as Mercedes’ George Russell ambushed him and Verstappen from fourth on the grid. Verstappen took the lead in lap three and never looked back en route to his seventh season victory and 61st overall, facing no traffic while Norris had to work his way up again after both pit stops and eventually trailed by 2.
2 seconds. Mercedes showed their latest improvement with Lewis Hamilton third for his first season podium and Russell fourth. Ferrari had to settle for fifth and sixth from Charles Leclerc and local star Carlos Sainz.
Verstappen increased his championship lead to 69 points, with Norris now second, two points ahead of Leclerc. The start made the difference, all agree “I think what made the race was the beginning. I took the lead and then had a buffer in that first stint and could eke out a gap,” Verstappen said.
“After that we had to drive defensively. Lando and McLaren were very quick. I think we did everything well.
I am very happy to win here.” Norris was utterly frustrated, saying: “I should have won. I got a bad start.
As simple as that. The car was incredible today. We were for sure the quickest.
I just lost it at the beginning. “Disappointed but a lot of positives. One negative and that kind of ruined e.
