Formula 1: Max Verstappen imperial at the Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes surprise

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: Xavi Bonilla / DPPI via AFP 17:33 pm, June 04, 2023

The races follow one another and are similar in Formula 1: Max Verstappen won without trembling the Spanish Grand Prix, seventh round of the season, Sunday on the circuit of Catalonia in Montmeló. The Dutchman, who edged out the surprising Mercedes of Britons Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, took his fifth win in seven races this year.

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Successful start

The two-time reigning world champion flew over the race after a successful start by fending off the onslaught of Spaniard Carlos Sainz's Ferrari. He then widened the gap inexorably by making the superiority of his car speak for itself to win easily. "It is a great pleasure to drive such a car. There were different tyre strategies but in the end it worked and it's another win here, it's incredible."

Verstappen consolidated his position as provisional leader of the world championship by collecting an additional 26 points to bring his total to 170. He is now ahead of his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez, fourth on Sunday after starting in 11th position, by 53 units (117).

>> READ ALSO – Formula 1: dates, times and broadcasts, discover the calendar of the 2023 season

Sainz, big loser

Sainz, who had started on the front row in front of his home crowd, was the loser of the day, taking only fifth place, far from the podium. Scuderia Ferrari had another frustrating race as Monegasque Charles Leclerc, who had started from the pits after changing several parts on his car, took 11th place, failing to reach the points. Local hero Fernando Alonso, who was eagerly awaited by his tens of thousands of green-clad fans, finished only seventh in his Aston Martin, his worst result of the season. For the first time this year, he was edged out by teammate Canadian Lance Stroll, who finished right ahead of him.

A week after his unexpected podium in Monaco, Frenchman Esteban Ocon finished eighth, ahead of China's Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) and Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly.

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Beautiful day for Mercedes

Apart from Red Bull, which continues to fly over the season, the nice surprise of the day is to be credited to Mercedes, which managed to place its two Silver Arrows on the podium. Russell, who had only started in 12th position on the grid, made a superb comeback and managed to contain Pérez's Red Bull late in the race, which seems to show that the improvements introduced in the Principality last week are starting to pay off.

"What a result for our team! We didn't expect it. I really want to take my hat off to everyone at the factory. We are a little closer to the Red Bulls. We will continue to chase them but it's a great result for us and for George as well, who put in a superb performance. For now the Red Bulls are going faster but we are working on it, we hope to catch them by the end of the year and if not this year, it will be next," said the seven-time world champion.

McLaren, which had placed both cars in the Top 10 in qualifying with a surprising third place for Lando Norris, had a nightmarish day as the Briton hit Hamilton's car at the second corner, damaging his wing, and eventually finished 17th. Australian rookie Oscar Piastri finished 13th after starting 9th. The eighth round of the Formula 1 World Championship will take place in two weeks in Canada.