FÓRMULA-1

Verstappen takes the lead in Spain and takes the lead in the championship

Max Verstappen did not have an easy life to win the Formula 1 Spanish GP this Sunday (22). After failing to take the lead from Charles Leclerc at the start, the Dutchman escaped the track and still saw a failure in the DRS interfere in the dispute with George Russell, but he was also lucky that a break from the Monegasque paved the way for a turnaround in Barcelona.

With the Ferrari engine opening its nose, Max went to the pits, Sergio Pérez took the lead from Russell and was soon subtly guided to enter the lead for his teammate. Even expressing his displeasure, the Mexican gave the position – not subtly, by the way.

Verstappen then fired at the front to win for the second time on the Catalan track, this time with a margin of 13.072 seconds for Pérez, in second place. Russell completed the Catalan podium.

"[The DRS issue] made it very difficult, but we were able to go ahead and do our own race and eventually win," Verstappen said. "It was a difficult start, but a good ending", he summarized.

"I tried to stay focused, of course. It's not good when things like that happen, but I'm very happy with the victory and very happy for Checo", he commented. "It's a great result for the team," he concluded.

Autonews