Max Verstappen takes Formula 1 championship lead from retired Charles Leclerc despite George Russell’s defensive masterclass in revitalised Mercedes

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Max Verstappen has leapfrogged title rival Charles Leclerc back to the top of the Formula 1 world championship standings with a win at the Spanish Grand Prix where reliability and wind wrecked havoc.

A disastrous retirement from Leclerc’s Ferrari gifted Red Bull a one-two finish in Barcelona, George Russell following Sergio Perez to cap off the podium.


Verstappen is back at the top of the standings despite Perez and Russell making things difficult

AFP


Leclerc couldn’t believe his luck

AFP

Things looked set to be simple for Ferrari after securing pole in Spain, with Leclerc assailing to a 13-second lead before losing power on lap 27.

“NO! NO! NO! What happened? What happened? Lost power,” Leclerc said over team radio as he paved the way for Verstappen to take a huge win.

It was far from easy for the reigning world champion though, beginning his race with a spin at turn four where win caught out both himself and Carlos Sainz.

The Dutchman then spent a number of laps behind Mercedes’ Russell, who defended valiantly, even with the aid of Verstappen’s defective drag reduction system.

Teammate Perez looked the fastest of the two Red Bulls after Russell made way for his pitstop, and demanded Verstappen let him pass.

That call didn’t last long though, with Perez then labelling a call to let the no.1 car pass ‘unfair’.


Perez was miffed by the team orders

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Mercedes look like potential challengers for the first time thanks to a Russell masterclass

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And the Mexican was still disappointed post-race, saying: “I’m happy for the team, but we need to speak later.”

A bad weekend for Ferrari got even worse when both Mercedes managed to make it past Sainz, but Lewis Hamilton then had to sacrifice fourth to the Spaniard despite an impressive recovery from an early puncture.

Leclerc now trains Verstappen by six points at the top of the standings, with F1 heading to his homeland of Monaco next, a track where he’s had no luck at all in the past.

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Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport