Spanish F1 Grand Prix 2024 Results: Max Verstappen Wins Followed by Norris, Hamilton
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVJune 23, 2024
Max Verstappen went back to back for the third time in 2024, claiming the checkered flag in the Spanish Grand Prix on the heels of his Formula One victory in Montreal.
Formula 1 @F1IT'S MAX VERSTAPPEN IN BARCELONA!! 🏆👏<br><br>Pushed to the wire, but the World Champ brings home a third consecutive win in Spain 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpanishGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpanishGP</a> <a href="https://t.co/7d9WMwjgDm">pic.twitter.com/7d9WMwjgDm</a>
Lando Norris started from the pole, adding to what has been a strong season from the 24-year-old. However, it didn't take long for the natural order to establish itself.
Focusing his efforts on fending off Verstappen, Norris watched as George Russell almost immediately capitalized on an opening on the outside and moved into first place.
Formula 1 @F1⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️<br>⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️<br><br>LIGHTS OUT IN BARCELONA!!! <br><br>AND GEORGE RUSSELL SWEEPS AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF TURN 1 TO TAKE THE LEAD!!! 😱😱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpanishGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpanishGP</a> <a href="https://t.co/0J08Iyv8X9">pic.twitter.com/0J08Iyv8X9</a>
By the third lap, Russell ceded the lead to Verstappen.
Davis Harrigan (Digi) 🦁 @DeadlineDavisNow Verstappen repeats George's move, DRS and a tow, and thunders into a lead. Short of a car failure, that Red Bull is going to fly away in a matter of a few laps <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpanishGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpanishGP</a>
From there, the race followed a familiar story. Verstappen built a comfortable gap on the rest of the field and cruised to an anticlimactic win. In the late stages, Norris was fractionally faster than Verstappen but nowhere near the pace he needed to be in order to catch the reigning F1 champion.
Chris Medland @ChrisMedlandF1Norris can see Verstappen, but can also tell this gap isn't coming down quickly enough. It's still under five seconds but only coming down around 0.2s a lap <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpanishGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpanishGP</a>
The outcome was probably a bit of a disappointment for fans given the frenzied start. There was some drama for the other two podium positions, though.
Around the halfway mark, Russell and Norris exchanged second place through a series of brilliantly executed passes around the tight corners at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. When the dust cleared, Norris was in second and Russell faced a difficult fight for third with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton for third.
Hamilton's hard work paid off on the 52nd lap as he passed Russell.
Formula 1 @F1LAP 52/66<br><br>Hamilton's pace on the softs pays dividends, and he gets past Russell and onto the podium! 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpanishGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpanishGP</a> <a href="https://t.co/c6Ul5bJmeM">pic.twitter.com/c6Ul5bJmeM</a>
Autosport @autosportLewis Hamilton breezes by George Russell to set-up what would be his first podium finish of 2024! 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpanishGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpanishGP</a> <a href="https://t.co/SkP1DqD9Qw">pic.twitter.com/SkP1DqD9Qw</a>
The seven-time champion remained in third the rest of the way to secure his best finish of 2024 so far. He had yet to put himself onto the podium, his fourth-place showing in Montreal the closest he had come. Dating back to last season, Hamilton's podium drought lasted for 13 races.
The Austrian Grand Prix is the next stop on the F1 calendar. The first practice at Red Bull Ring gets started Friday before qualifying follows on Saturday.
Verstappen is the winner in four of the last six trips to Spielberg, so he may well solidify his position atop the drivers' standings in one week's time.
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