Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix, takes lead in Championship standings

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen won his fourth race of the 2022 Formula One season as he finished the Spanish Grand Prix in first place, with teammate Sergio Perez completing a Red Bull 1-2 finish.

After winning the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen returned to action in Barcelona looking to close the gap to Championship leader Charles Leclerc on the circuit in the Spanish Grand Prix.

Leclerc made his fourth pole in six races after he won the qualifying race to secure a start at the front of the line-up. The Ferrari driver made an impressive start to the race, keeping the lead as Verstappen struggled with his DRS for most of the race.

Leclerc remained in the lead until he was forced to retire in the 27th lap after his car lost power on the circuit, relinquishing first place to Mercedes’ George Russell.

Verstappen first took the lead in the race in the 38th lap as he overtook teammate Perez to move into first place, a position he maintained till the end of the race. The Dutchman won the race, with Perez and Russell completing the podium places in the Spanish Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished in fourth place.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finished the race in 5th place and was named the Driver of the Day after an impressive performance that saw him climb from 19th place to 5th. Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Ocon, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, and Yuki Tsunoda completed the top 10 and took the points from Barcelona.

Verstappen has now taken the lead in the Drivers Championship Standings for the first time this season and is seven points ahead of second-place Charles Leclerc. The Red Bull driver has now won every race he has finished in the 2022 Formula One season so far, including the previous three in a row.