Dutchman Max Verstappen scored a fourth victory this season, winning the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix, and he also took advantage of Charles Leclerc’s retirement to move up to the top of the drivers’ standings.
Ferrari’s Leclerc suffered a mechanical breakdown on the 27and of 66 laps and could not reach the finish for the first time this season.
For his part, Verstappen has won every race he has completed in his Red Bull, including the three most recent events on the calendar.
Verstappen, the reigning world champion, now has 110 points in the drivers standings, six more than Leclerc.
Sergio Perez took second place to give Red Bull a double. George Russell of Mercedes completed the podium.
Carlos Sainz allowed Ferrari to pick up some points in the constructors’ championship with a fourth place. He took advantage of Lewis Hamilton’s troubles at the end of the race to get ahead of the Mercedes driver.
Verstappen had to climb back up after going off the track on lap nine. He was also plagued by problems with opening his drag reduction system.
A few laps before Verstappen, Sainz had also found himself in the gravel trap due to the swirling winds at the fourth corner of the Circuit de Catalunya.
Hamilton is the one who had to work the hardest. Starting from sixth place, he slipped to 19and rank following contact with Kevin Magnussen on the first lap.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso started from the back row after changing the engine in his Alpine car and managed to climb up to ninth in front of his supporters.
Quebec driver Lance Stroll, of Aston Martin, settled for 15and rank. Toronto’s Nicholas Latifi of Williams finished in 16and position.