World champion Max Verstappen took the lead in the Formula 1 world championship for the first time this year by winning the Spanish Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old Dutchman prevailed in Barcelona on Sunday and benefited from the loss of the previous World Cup leader Charles Leclerc.
The international press writes about this:
Netherlands
"AD.nl":
"Max Verstappen is the happiest after an unlucky race.
Five weeks ago there were doubts about winning the title again, now he is suddenly leading the World Cup.
And Mercedes is celebrating a cautious resurrection.”
"De Telegraaf":
"After a race with two faces, Max Verstappen was again the man with the most points.
It couldn't be any better, one would think - but his team still has enough problems to solve."
Italy
"Gazzetta dello Sport":
"Nightmare Ferrari.
Bad luck follows the Scuderia and Leclerc in Spain.
The engine gave him away.
Now he has the opportunity to restart at his home race in Monte Carlo.”
"Corriere dello Sport":
"The Ferrari weekend, which had started perfectly, has become a torment.
Leclerc has been betrayed by his car and capitulated to Verstappen.
In any case, apart from the results, both have shown great abilities.”
"
Tuttosport":
"The engine betrays Leclerc.
Technical issues aside, the Ferrari driver has shown maturity and balance that he will desperately need for the remainder of the championship.
His talent can overcome many hurdles.”
"Corriere della Sera":
"Fate plays a nasty trick on Leclerc.
The engine leaves a lot to be desired, and Verstappen benefits from that.
Leclerc is now dreaming of revenge at the home race in Monte Carlo, the right place for Ferrari to come back.”
"La Repubblica":
"Verstappen wins in the midst of difficulties.
Bad Boy Max likes problems.
The more difficulties he has to overcome, the better he performs.
His sheer talent and killer instinct lead him to success.”
Great Britain
The Sun:
"Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton climbed from Hell's Edge to fifth place, which was incredible considering he had a puncture on the first lap."
"Daily Mail":
"Max Verstappen fought back from fourth place and won the Spanish Grand Prix (...) Lewis Hamilton had to be dragged back from the brink of despair in sweltering Barcelona but now believes he can conquer the world again can."
"
The Guardian":
"In a dramatic, incident-ridden Spanish Grand Prix, there were no easy rides, but perseverance was certainly rewarded.
The tide turned for Mercedes in Barcelona: Lewis Hamilton finished fifth after falling back to 19th place (...).
Proof that the car is on the right track to be back at the front.
Max Verstappen's win was a fight against the odds over technical issues that unexpectedly allowed him to leap to the top of the championship."
France
"L'Equipe":
"Mercedes has found the key and is regaining some of its magnificence.
Hamilton shows a thunderous comeback.
The W13 no longer bounces, it no longer shakes the entrails of its drivers.
He's finally competitive.”
"Le Figaro":
"One-two for Red Bull in Spain, Ferrari and Leclerc lose massively"
Spain
"Marca":
"Verstappen defeats his demons and is the new leader.
Victory after going off the track, overcoming a nervous breakdown and taking advantage of Leclerc's retirement."
"El País":
"No one questions Verstappen's role at Red Bull.
(...) Last season he was able to withstand and finally beat Hamilton and this season he is already in the lead.
And that on Sundays like the last one when he had to swim against the tide due to problems with the movable rear wing (DRS).
Austria
"Kurier":
"Ferrari drama about Leclerc secures Verstappen victory and championship lead"
Switzerland
"Neue Zürcher Zeitung":
"At the end of the heat drama, Max Verstappen keeps a cool head.
But not only the world champion belongs to the winners in Spain.
The Mercedes team, which recently slipped into the crisis, is also given a boost.
The World Cup should be even more exciting than you might think at the moment.”
"Blick":
"Verstappen thanks to Leclerc drama new World Cup leader"