F1 Grand Prix race results: Verstappen wins Spanish GP

Verstappen bounced back from an off-track excursion and an intermittent DRS issue to lead home a crushing Red Bull 1-2 ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.

Leclerc was cruising out front when he lost power on Lap 27, handing the lead to Mercedes’ George Russell. Perez passed the Mercedes just before half distance to hit the front but Verstappen charged past him towards the end of the race to score his fourth win of the season.

2022 Spanish Grand Prix race results

How the Spanish Grand Prix unfolded

Leclerc held his pole advantage on the long run to Turn 1, ahead of Verstappen, Russell and Perez (who touched wheels at Turn 1) and a slow-starting Carlos Sainz (Ferrari).

Lewis Hamilton, who’d won the previous five Grands Prix here, started on mediums and clashed with Kevin Magnussen’s Haas at Turn 4, puncturing the Mercedes’ front-left tyre.

That elevated the second Haas of Mick Schumacher up to sixth, before Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) passed him on Lap 5 and Esteban Ocon (Alpine) further demoted him two laps later.

A gusty wind then caught out two frontrunners: Sainz spun at Turn 4 on Lap 7, dropping from fifth to 11th, and then Verstappen slid into the gravel out of second position at the same corner a couple of laps later, falling to fourth.

Perez allowed Verstappen back to third on Lap 11 and he set about regaining second off Russell, as Leclerc extended a 10s lead. Russell’s car was overheating, while Verstappen’s DRS wasn’t always working, and they pitted together on Lap 14.

Verstappen became increasingly frustrated by his intermittent DRS as he toiled to find a way past Russell. They swapped places at Turn 1 on Lap 24, as Verstappen dived down the inside but Russell re-passed him on the exit.

Leclerc – who was cruising out front – lost what looked like a certain win when his power unit hit trouble and slowed just before half distance, leading to his first non-finish of the season.

Verstappen pitted again to undercut Russell on Lap 29,…