Verstappen overcomes problems, wins Spanish GP and takes overall lead in F1

In an exciting race and with many changes of positions, Max Verstappen, from Red Bull, overcame problems with his car and won the Spanish GP, this Sunday (22), in the sixth stage of the F1 season. The result puts the Dutchman at the top of the drivers’ championship – he overtook the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, from Ferrari, who did not complete the race.

Leclerc led the race with ease, but had to retire on lap 28 because of engine problems. “I lost potency [do motor]. It’s a shame, but that’s life. We will understand what happened and fix it for the next race”, said the driver already in the pits.

In the general classification, Leclerc remains with 104 points, now in second position, and sees Verstappen, in the lead, six ready in front of him. The Dutchman defends the F1 title he won last year.

This Sunday, Verstappen’s victory was not easy. He had problems with the opening of the rear wing and even ranted with the team over the radio. Still in the beginning, the Dutchman ended up in the gravel and lost positions after an error in one of the corners.

But Verstappen once again showed competence and recovery power to finish the race with a good advantage over second-placed Mexican Sergio Pérez, who secured Red Bull’s one-two in Spain. British Mercedes driver George Russell completed the podium.

It was the 24th victory of Verstappen’s F1 career. He won for the fourth time in six races held this season. The double still leaves Red Bull with a good advantage in the constructors’ standings – the team has 195 points so far, 26 more than Ferrari, in second.

The seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, of Mercedes, made a recovery test. Still at the start he was touched by the Danish Kevin Magnussen (Haas) and plummeted from sixth to 19th place. The next race will be on Sunday (29), at the Monaco GP.