Verstappen Secures 61st Formula 1 Victory at 2024 Spanish Grand Prix
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen claimed his 61st win in Formula 1 at the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, who secured his first podium of the season.
In a thrilling qualifying session on Saturday, Norris started from pole position, with Championship leader Verstappen closely behind. Sergio Pérez, who qualified eighth, was demoted to eleventh on the grid due to a three-place penalty from the Canadian Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Alex Albon started from the pitlane after qualifying in nineteenth.
On Lap 3, Verstappen overtook George Russell to take the lead, which he held onto for the remainder of the race. Carlos Sainz Jr also made a move on Charles Leclerc on this lap, with the two drivers making contact.
The Stake F1 Team’s Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu made progress in the early stages, with Bottas passing Fernando Alonso for thirteenth and Zhou passing Yuki Tsunoda for sixteenth on Lap 8.
As the pit stops began, Pérez and Esteban Ocon switched tyres on Lap 14, while Kevin Magnussen tried to gain an undercut on those ahead. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly pitted from seventh but suffered a slow stop, losing a place to his teammate.
Hamilton pitted on Lap 18, and despite a better stop from Mercedes, came out behind his teammate and Sainz. Norris briefly took the race lead when Verstappen pitted, but the Dutchman’s quick stop – the first sub-two second pit of the season – allowed him to regain the lead.
The battle for fourth place intensified, with Norris eventually passing Hamilton on Lap 32. The McLaren driver then set his sights on Russell, making a brilliant move round the outside at Turn Three on Lap 35.
As the leaders made their second pit stops, Norris closed the gap to Verstappen, but the gap stagnated in the final laps. The Briton eventually crossed the line 2.5 seconds behind Verstappen, who took victory in Formula 1’s 1100th race.
Hamilton finished third, ahead of Russell, who held off Leclerc on the final lap. Sainz came home sixth, followed by Oscar Piastri, Pérez, Gasly, and Ocon, who secured a double points finish for BWT Alpine F1 Team.
“I’m very pleased with today’s result. The car was handling well, and I was able to manage the race from the front. Congratulations to Lando and Lewis on their strong performances as well.” – Max Verstappen
The next stop on the FIA WEC calendar is the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 28-29, followed by the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 10-11. Meanwhile, the WRC season continues with Rally Italia Sardegna from June 1-4.
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