Max Verstappen maintains dominance but Mercedes show their teeth at Spanish Grand Prix
Max Verstappen recorded another dominant victory at the Spanish Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished second and third on a positive day for Mercedes. Verstappen led all 66 laps at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya to record his fifth win from the opening seven rounds and extend his championship lead. Hamilton started fourth but finished runner-up, with team-mate Russell completing the podium places on a strong afternoon for the Silver Arrows. Sergio Perez finished fourth after moving ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz with a dozen laps remaining. Verstappen’s title lead over his Red Bull team-mate Perez now stands at 53 points with a week off before the next round in Canada on June 18. A day on from crushing his opposition to take pole, Verstappen held off the advances off Sainz on the long run to the opening corner and from there, his 40th career victory, which takes him just one shy of Ayrton Senna’s career tally, never looked in doubt. Red Bull have won all seven rounds this year, and 17 of the last 18 races contested, and their stranglehold on the sport shows few signs of easing. Mercedes have endured a turbulent season in their pursuit of Red Bull, but the Brackley team will take significant pleasure from their performance here. The seven-time world champion, who started fourth, survived a prang with Lando Norris on the second corner. Hamilton leapfrogged his countryman off the start-line before Norris nibbled at the Mercedes’ gearbox, and broke his front wing in the process. The McLaren man was forced to stop for repairs. Hamilton lost a position to Lance Stroll, but on lap eight he was back ahead of the Aston Martin driver. Further behind and Russell, who started 12th following a bizarre collision with Hamilton in qualifying, was on the move, too. After ending the opening lap in seventh, Russell cleared Fernando Alonso, before slipstreaming his way ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. On lap 15, Sainz stopped for rubber, promoting Hamilton to second, with Verstappen eight seconds up the road. Nine laps later, Hamilton made his first stop, dropping him back behind Sainz, with Russell pitting for fresh tyres on the next lap. But the Mercedes men, in their upgraded machines, were flying on new tyres, and on lap 28, Hamilton roared past Sainz to assume second position. Seven laps later, Russell was also ahead of the Ferrari man following a fine move down the Spaniard’s inside at Turn 1. “Solid work,” was the verdict of Russell’s race engineer, Marcus Dudley. “Just solid?” replied Russell. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was next on the radio. “It was pretty good,” the Austrian said. Mercedes hauled Hamilton and Russell in for a second pit stop, but the team-mates, hung on to second and third on the road, with both Verstappen and Perez also needing a second change of tyres. Verstappen was handed the black and white flag for exceeding track limits, but took a bonus point for setting the fastest lap, and crossed the line 24 seconds clear of Hamilton, who finished eight seconds ahead of team-mate Russell. Stroll was sixth, one spot ahead of home favourite Alonso, who, despite a move on Ocon in the latter stages, provided the packed grandstands with little to cheer as he registered his worst finish of the season. Charles Leclerc finished only 12th on a weekend to forget for the Ferrari driver, with Norris, who qualified third, 18th, following his first-lap accident. “It is a big pleasure to drive a car like this,” Verstappen said afterwards. “It showed again today. A win here is incredible. “I had another strong weekend and that is what I like and hopefully we can keep that up throughout the year.” Hamilton said: “What a result for our team. We definitely did not expect that, so I want to take my hat off to the team and everyone back at the factory. “The Red Bulls are still ahead but we will keep working at it and chasing them down.” Read More Lewis Hamilton accuses George Russell of ‘dangerous’ driving: ‘He just backed off’ Lewis Hamilton says he will ‘struggle to get into top 10’ at Spanish Grand Prix ‘Best driver in the world’ needs more than just a Formula One title, claims rival championship boss F1 highlights: Link to watch Spanish Grand Prix race online F1 LIVE RESULT: Race standings and latest updates at Spanish GP Lewis Hamilton accuses George Russell of ‘dangerous’ driving
2023-06-04 23:16
Benzema to leave Real Madrid with Saudi suitors circling
Karim Benzema has agreed a deal to leave Real Madrid, the Spanish giants said on Sunday, with strong interest in the ex-France striker...
2023-06-04 22:57
MLB Rumors: Mets on the hot seat, Judge has a problem, Tatis doesn't get it
MLB Rumors: Fernando Tatis Jr. doesn't get itThe San Diego Padres have a virtual All-Star team on the roster, yet sit four games under .500 and in fourth place in the loaded NL West. The Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Giants are all ahead of them, leaving many to question -- What's going on w...
2023-06-04 22:47
Verstappen wins Spanish GP from pole for 40th career victory
Max Verstappen of Red Bull has won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position to strengthen his hold on the Formula One championship
2023-06-04 22:46
Ronald Acuña Jr. made some bombastic MLB history Saturday night
Ronald Acuña Jr. absolutely unloaded on this moonshot, making MLB history in the process.Seemingly every time Ronald Acuña Jr. takes the field for the Atlanta Braves, he does something utterly spectacular.While Acuña is going to eclipse 30 stolen bases on the season befo...
2023-06-04 22:25
Guardians vs. Twins prediction and odds for Sunday, June 4 (How to bet on Triston McKenzie's season debut)
The Guardians have hung around in the American League Central race, and now bolster its rotation with the return of one of the team's best pitcher with Triston McKenzie set to make his season debut.After being shut down just before the season due to a strain in his right teres muscle, McKen...
2023-06-04 22:24
Don't Make Me Tell You Again: Ump show's latest victim is Blue Jays manager
The ump show is back, this time with Blue Jays manager John Schneider getting tossed for disagreeing with a strike call.We barely knew you, John Schneider.Saturday's Blue Jays vs. Mets game was as tight as ever, with every call seemingly having a huge impact on the outcome itself -- eve...
2023-06-04 22:24
Neuville wins Rally of Italy
Belgium's Thierry Neuville, driving a Hyundai, jumped from fifth to second in the drivers' standings after winning the Rally of...
2023-06-04 21:58
MLB Rumors: Could shocking St. Louis Cardinals star be traded?
Could the St. Louis Cardinals really consider trading Paul Goldschmidt? After two losses to the Pirates, the Cards are staring down the barrel.Paul Goldschmidt has a year left on his current contract. While it's unlikely that St. Louis trades the former NL MVP given they still do believe in...
2023-06-04 21:57
The Memorial Tournament final round live odds (Who will win at Muirfield Village?)
Three rounds of The Memorial Tournament are in the books and it's still anyone's event to win.Well, not really ANYONE, but there are 13 golfers who are tied for or within two shots of the lead. Rory McIlroy, Si Woo Kim, and David Lipsky are all sitting at the top at 6-under par.So,...
2023-06-04 21:45
Djokovic takes on French Open outsider as Alcaraz faces Musetti
Novak Djokovic steps up his bid Sunday for a record 23rd men's Grand Slam singles title against Peruvian outsider Juan Pablo Varillas at the French Open, while world number one Carlos Alcaraz...
2023-06-04 20:52
Why is Karim Benzema leaving Real Madrid?
Karim Benzema is set to end his 13-year association with Real Madrid to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad. Here's how the saga played out.
2023-06-04 20:24
