Double and overtaking in the standings: Red Bull dominates the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix with Max Verstappen in front of Sergio Perez and becomes the leader of the World Championship at the end of a race full of twists. Ferrari is forced to take a heavy defeat after dominating the entire weekend at the Montmelò circuit. Starting in the lead from pole position, Charles Leclerc had to retire on lap 28 due to a problem still not identified with the power unit (the suspicion is that it is the turbo), while Carlos Sainz lost positions at the start and then on the seventh lap with a spin at turn 4. The Spaniard recovered up to fourth position.
The race starts in the best way for Leclerc, brave in closing the trajectory at Verstappen. The Monegasque driver stretches gradually and seems destined for an easy victory, until lap 28 in which he loses power and must return to the pits screaming “no”. His last retirement due to technical problems (electrical system) dates back to August 2020 right here in Spain, while the last stop of the Red is that of Vettel at Monza in September 2020 due to brake problems.
Verstappen’s race was much more troubled, first ending out at turn 4 like Sainz (both drivers blame the wind), then struggling to attack Russell because the drs, the mobile wing that favors overtaking, works badly. Overtaking takes place in the pits during pit stops. Verstappen completes the job when his teammate Sergio Perez gives him the first position and hisses over the radio “I’m happy for the team, but we have to talk later.”
In recovery Mercedes, which climbs on the podium with Russell and is fifth with Hamilton. The seven-time world champion punctures at the start in a contact with Magnussen, proposes to his short wall to retire and then comes back up to fifth place. However, the delay of the German team remains around 7 tenths per lap.
In the top 10 of the Spanish GP there are: 6. Bottas (Alfa Romeo); 7. Ocon (Alpine); 8. Norris (McLaren); 9. Alonso (Alpine); 10. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri).
Heavy balance for Ferrari in the standings: Verstappen overtakes Leclerc in the drivers and reaches more than 6 points. Among the constructors, Red Bull is more than 26 over Ferrari. «I see the glass half full – says Mattia Binotto -. We were ahead in qualifying and in the race pace. We have built a good car and have shown that we know how to develop it. Charles behaved like a leader, after the retirement he hugged the mechanics, came to the wall, smiled. In this way he transmits serenity to the team. He has matured a lot. Sainz? He is less comfortable with the car, but he will get there ». The team principal is happy to have to get back on track immediately: «Sunday we are racing in Montecarlo. Plunging back into the challenge immediately will do us good ».