Charles Leclerc registers a DNF as Red Bull continue to dominate at the Spanish GP
We are half way through the Spanish GP in Barcelona and things are getting really interesting out there. After 35 laps, Sergio Perez is leading the race followed by Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Defending champion Lewis Hamilton is just managing to stay in the top 10.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou are the only drivers so far to have registered DNFs so far. Perez and Verstappen are very much on track to significantly reduce Leclerc’s leading margin in the Drivers’ championship. Red Bull continues to breathe heavily down on Ferrari’s neck at the top of the Constructors’ championship and could very well push them to second place if the results stay this way at the end of the race.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez pits for the medium tyres to cover Russell. He comes out four seconds ahead of the Brit, with Verstappen now out in front by 17 seconds. This is all going to be about when will Verstappen make his final pit stop.
Verstappen takes the lead from Perez after the Mexican decided to make a pit stop. Behind the front three, Valtteri Bottas is having another brilliant drive in fourth place. Carlos Sainz has recovered to fifth following his early spin and Lewis Hamilton is sixth. Esteban Ocon is in seventh and Lando Norris is eighth.
It’s the Red Bull drivers who are involved in an intense duel for the top place on the podium. Mercedes’ George Russell looks comfortable in third place.
If Verstappen manages to win the race, it would be his fourth of the season and would see him take the top spot in the Drivers’ championship, replacing Leclerc. Perez is meanwhile looking for his first win of the season.
Lewis Hamilton is giving it his all and has come up to the top six but has now received a black and white warning for exceeding track limits.
It is all going down to the wire!
Lap 57
Valtteri Bottas is under severe pressure from Carlos Sainz, who is less than a second behind. Lewis Hamilton is there too so it could soon get close between the former teammates and the Ferrari.
Lap 58
Sainz eases by Bottas on the main straight, leaving the Alfa Romeo driver vulnerable for the next few corners. Hamilton brilliantly goes around the outside of his former teammate at Turn 3.
Lap 60
It’s been a superb comeback drive from Hamilton. He was in last place and a minute behind at one point, now he’s in fourth as the seven-time world champion has just gone around the outside of Sainz at Turn 1. Great move.
Lap 63
We can finally take a deep breath with three laps to go. The top six positions are set to remain the same with a Red Bull 1-2, Mercedes 3-4 with Sainz in fifth and Bottas in sixth.
Lap 65
More drama! Both Russell and Hamilton have been told to lift and coast for a “DNF risk”. Sainz is now right on Hamilton‘s tail for fifth place.
Lap 66
And just like that, Sainz eases by Hamilton on the main straight as Verstappen is about to begin his last lap. Russell should be okay to finish on the podium.
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE 2022 SPANISH GP
Max Verstappen makes it a hat-trick of wins and takes the lead of the championship as he wins a dramatic Spanish GP. It’s the second Red Bull 1-2 of the season as Sergio Perez takes second and George Russell finishes in third, ahead of Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton. Charles Leclerc‘s retirement could prove very costly.
1) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2) Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
3) George Russell (Mercedes)
4) Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
5) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
6) Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
7) Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
8) Lando Norris (McLaren)
9) Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
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