Third success in a row for Verstappen, new leader, Leclerc on the mat

Dumped by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) during the first part of this Spanish Grand Prix, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) saw the elements turn in his favor to sign his 4^e victory of the season, the 3^e consecutive, to leave Catalonia in the shoes of the leader for the first time this season.

However, everything did not start well for the reigning world champion. Quickly left behind by Charles Leclerc at the start, Max Verstappen almost lost everything in 9^e lap when he lost control of his RB18 at turn 4. Passed through the gravel trap and fell back 4^e behind Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and George Russell (Mercedes), the Batavian then began to lose patience. Income 3^e after his teammate kindly gave him his place, the Dutchman was unable to get rid of Russell due to a failed DRS.

MAX VERSTAPPEN WHO MAKES THE SAME MISTAKE AS SAINZ ! 😱

The Dutchman also made a mistake in turn 4 ❗️ #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 #F1

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 22, 2022

Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, easily installed in control of the Grand Prix, took the opportunity to gradually widen the gap and thus begin to glimpse his 3^e victory of the year. This was without taking into account the vagaries of motorsport.

27^e lap, the turning point of the Grand Prix for Verstappen

Under the Catalan sun, the Monegasque had (normally) no reason to worry. As a lone rider, the Scuderia driver seemed intractable and too strong for his rivals. But now, his Spanish Grand Prix took a completely different turn in the blink of an eye. So comfortably in the lead with a good ten seconds lead, Charles Leclerc was betrayed by his mechanics and was forced to return to his garage to retire for the first time of the season at 27^e round. A massive blow for the poleman who left the controls to George Russell and above all offered the possibility to Max Verstappen to take the reins of the championship. An opportunity that the latter was not going to let pass.

CHARLES LECLERC IN SLOW MOTION! 😱

The Ferrari driver loses power, probably a turbo problem. The Monegasque must give up 😩#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 #F1

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 22, 2022

Blocked behind George Russell, the reigning world champion decided to attempt the undercut at 28^e passage to try to get rid of the Englishman quickly in order to seek victory. Well helped by his fresh soft tires, Max Verstappen then set his own pace and found himself at the head of the Grand Prix at 37^e turn when Russell and Sergio Pérez were performing their 2nd^e stop. The hardest part was done for the Red Bull driver who could begin to dream of victory on Spanish soil.

Forced to repeat a 3^e once through the pits in order to reach the finish, Max Verstappen managed his end of the race perfectly. Spring 2^e behind Sergio Pérez, the Batavian quickly erased his delay and even saw his teammate open the field for the 2^e times so that it goes straight towards the 24^e victory of his career, the 4^e this season, the 3^e ranking after Imola and Miami. A perfect operation which allows him to move into the leadership chair for the first time this year and with 6 points ahead of Charles Leclerc.

Max Verstappen wins for the 3rd time in a row ❗️

🏆 The Dutchman takes advantage of Charles Leclerc's abandonment to win the race ahead Perez and Russell

📊 He also takes the lead in the championship at the expense of the Monegasque#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 #F1

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 22, 2022

Russell takes the podium, Hamilton comes back

Behind the Red Bull double with Sergio Pérez on the 2nd step of the podium, it was George Russell who did well. In the game from the start by settling in 3rd position behind Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, the 'English had a very solid Grand Prix. The Mercedes' performance gain allowed it to stand up to Verstappen and even Pérez for a long time. One time leader of the race after the abandonment of Leclerc, the former driver Williams didn't miss his chance.

Too short to pick up the Red Bulls in front of him, George Russell preferred to play the insurance card in order to leave with big points. Although the mechanics gave him some scares (overheating problem at the start of the race and having to take his foot off to save fuel as he approached the finish), the Briton managed to keep his 3rd place until the checkerboard to achieve his 2nd podium in 2022, one month after that obtained in Australia.

His teammate Lewis Hamilton He experienced a much more complicated Grand Prix in Spain this Sunday. Touched by Kevin Magnussen (Haas) on the first lap and forced to immediately pit, the seven-time champion did not seem in his element to the point of suggesting to his team that they retire the car in order to preserve the engine for the rest of the season. In the end, Mercedes was right to leave him on the track since the Englishman found a second life to be able to get back on track.

📻 HAMILTON RADIO: “If I were you, I would save the engine. Sorry”

The Briton would like to retire after his contact with Magnussen in the first lap 🗣️#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 #F1

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 22, 2022

Long stuck at the back of the peloton, Lewis Hamilton was able to show realism to seize all the opportunities that presented themselves to him. Overtaking after overtaking, the record holder for victories in F1 was able to make his way through all the cars in front of him to climb up to 4th position in front of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari). Also forced to slow down to save enough fuel for the post-race technical inspections, the Mercedes driver escaped with 5th place behind the Spaniard after falling to 19th on the first lap. A great way to end this weekend where the Silver Arrows showed clear signs of progress after a mixed start to the campaign.

Alpine in the points, Gasly in the tough

Its two drivers absent from Q3 the day before, Alpine was hoping to score some points in Spain after the missed qualifiers. It's done. The A522 much more efficient than the day before, the French team was able to reach the finish with Esteban Ocon et Fernando Alonso in the points. A first since the Bahrain Grand Prix at the start of the season last March.

Starting 12th, Esteban Ocon showed a completely different face this Sunday. In good form, the Norman did not give up in the race and was able to find an opening on the drivers McLaren, Lando Norris et Daniel Ricciardo, or Mick Schumacher (Haas) to move up the hierarchy. Not bothered by mechanical problems, the winner of the last Hungarian Grand Prix finished in 7th place. His teammate Fernando Alonso had a very good race despite starting from 20th position on the grid. Pushed by his audience, the Bull of Asturias found the necessary resources to make a crazy comeback and thus take the checkerboard in 9th position. After the misfortunes of Saudi Arabia, the bad luck of Australia or even the double penalty of Miami, the Spaniard found his way to the points for his greater good.

In difficulty since the start of the weekend, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) was also this Sunday. At the wheel of an AT03 which suffered the blow against his rivals, the Frenchman did not shine during the Spanish Grand Prix. Vesting around 14th place during most of the race, the Norman was unable to do anything to get a Top 10. Contact with Lance stroll even cost him 5 seconds of penalty for a 13th place on the line.

The complete ranking

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