Max Verstappen secured a convincing win on the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, heading off a decided problem from pole-sitter Lando Norris, marking his seventh of the season and lengthening his lead within the 2024 FIA System 1 World Drivers Championship.
Regardless of leaping Norris going into Flip One, Verstappen wasn’t initially within the lead. A brilliantly executed transfer by George Russell, ranging from fourth in his Mercedes, stole the present at first. Nonetheless, Verstappen shortly overtook Russell, making a daring transfer on the skin of Flip One on Lap 3 to say the lead.
Norris, who had been celebrating his “excellent lap” in qualifying the day earlier than, discovered himself caught behind Russell within the early laps. This misplaced time proved essential, hindering his potential to problem Verstappen for the win later within the race, ending round two seconds behind the Dutchman.
Max Verstappen — Oracle Crimson Bull Racing — 1st
“I managed to get forward in lap two, which in the end made my race, and the Staff did a fantastic job as we have been aggressive with the technique and made the entire proper calls. After we overtook and led the race we needed to take fairly a defensive technique and actually push to the tip. We lacked a little bit of tempo and McLaren have been higher on the tyres than us right now, so that’s one thing that we have to take a look at and intention to enhance on.
“I wanted to try to push a bit extra as Lando was pushing full out behind to attempt to catch me. We have to in the end maximise our efficiency and handle the tyres as finest we will. That mentioned, it was nice to carry it house with a win and as a Staff we operated rather well right now.
“We have been actually sturdy, didn’t make any errors and the Staff additionally achieved the quickest pit cease this yr too, which was nice to see. So a robust weekend total!”
Lando Norris — McLaren F1 Staff — 2nd
“A irritating begin, easy as that. I misplaced a little bit bit to Max, he wasn’t fully alongside however with George on the skin, I didn’t have room to manoeuvre and that had me over. It’s disappointing, however there are nonetheless plenty of positives to remove from Barcelona.
“We come away with plenty of factors and the automotive was superb right now, I feel we have been the quickest on the market, so an enormous due to your entire staff for his or her efforts all through the weekend.
“We’re now specializing in Austria and Silverstone, two of my favorite circuits and tracks the place we’ve got a very good report, so I’m excited. We’re in a great spot and doing nicely every week, I simply must tidy up just a few little bits within the upcoming races.”
Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Staff — third
“It’s been a extremely nice weekend. It’s been some time since I’ve been on the rostrum so I’m very pleased! We’re not fairly there but however we’ve taken an enormous step in latest races.
“We didn’t fairly have the tempo to battle with the 2 guys forward of us however, if we will ship extra persistently like this, then we will probably be in a robust place. We’re on our option to catching these guys and that’s incredible.
“I had a extremely unhealthy begin, which was unlucky. The race might have been barely completely different if I had received off the road higher, however in the end, I feel P3 was the utmost right now.
“I used to be happy with my transfer on Sainz too. I gave him sufficient room and we each made it via the nook. It was an necessary transfer for my race, so I used to be glad to get it finished. It’s now on to Austria and we’re trying ahead to it.”
George Russell — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Staff —4th
“There have been just a few issues that went towards us right now, sadly. We had a gradual first pit cease, after which the Exhausting tyre didn’t really feel nice within the closing stint. Nonetheless, as a staff our intention was to maximise what we may obtain right now, and we did that with P3 and P4.
“Lewis drove a fantastic race right now and we take away the large positives from what have been a really promising final couple of races.
“I used to be dreaming of constructing a transfer like I did into flip one final night time. I didn’t suppose it might fairly come to fruition in the way in which that it did! I keep in mind Fernando (Alonso) making an analogous begin in 2013. We had a headwind so I knew I may brake fairly late. It was a really satisfying transfer and felt good to guide a race once more.
“Sadly, Max (Verstappen) was too quick for us right now, as was Lando. However two podiums in two races could be very encouraging as we head to Austria.”
Charles Leclerc — Scuderia Ferrari — fifth
“It was tight right now and we have been only a lap wanting combating for P4, however our opponents have been nonetheless forward by way of tempo. Relating to our technique, I feel we did nicely to offset ourselves from the automobiles round us.
“We possibly misplaced a while between our two automobiles originally of the race, however going ahead we are going to deal with our race tempo extracting the utmost from our package deal on the subsequent race.”
Carlos Sainz Jr. — Scuderia Ferrari — sixth
“It was a tough race however we gave it our greatest. Stopping early and ending the race on the Exhausting tyre didn’t turn into the optimum technique right now, however we solely know this with hindsight after the chequered flag.
“In any case, we have been missing a little bit of tempo this weekend usually and we have to work to enhance for subsequent weekend in Austria.
“A large thanks goes to each single fan that got here to the monitor right now and likewise to those that adopted and supported us from house. A house race for a driver is at all times particular and Barcelona is not any exception for me.”
Oscar Piastri — McLaren F1 Staff — seventh
“P7 rounds off a tricky weekend. I feel the race right now was a constructive to remove, however total, a difficult few days in Spain. Clearly, Qualifying was the most important frustration and made issues very tough going into the race.
“I feel we did some good issues on technique, attempting to tug ourselves up however in the end didn’t fairly have the tempo this weekend however we’ll go once more subsequent week in Austria.”
Sergio Perez — Oracle Crimson Bull Racing — eighth
“We struggled a little bit bit with the tempo right now and it was tremendous exhausting to move anybody on that first stint, particularly within the soiled air, I used to be managing my tyres and in a DRS practice. I feel that in the end compromised our race and we had some steadiness points on the gentle tyre, which made issues more durable than predicted.
“We switched to a three-stop technique and that meant we managed to save lots of, what I believed was the utmost right now, given our beginning place.
“Our Saturday was the primary drawback, and I’m fairly disenchanted as a result of we haven’t been capable of maximise the potential within the automotive this weekend, at the least on my facet, I feel Max did an incredible job right now to return away with the win. I’ve made good learnings this weekend for the approaching weeks, I’m hopeful we might be extra aggressive and are available again sturdy in Austria.
“I would like to assist ship excellent weekends for the Staff as a result of it’s going to be a really aggressive season.”
Pierre Gasly — BWT Alpine F1 Staff — ninth
“That was our greatest race of the season as far as a staff, so on that entrance, I’m very pleased with right now. We had a robust Qualifying on Saturday, which set us up for a very good end in ninth place right now.
“We executed the race nicely with the two-stop technique and managed every stint nicely. We nearly had eighth place and solely missed out on the final lap however I gave it my all. Even so, I’m pleased with such a robust race the place we battled two quick automobiles – the McLaren early on after which the Crimson Bull on the finish – in order that’s constructive for us.
“We should perceive why the package deal was sturdy right here and take these learnings going ahead. We’re progressing in a very good course, that’s three factors scoring finishes in a row, and we’ve got to maintain that going!”
Esteban Ocon — BWT Alpine F1 Staff — tenth
“It was good to get each automobiles within the factors for a second consecutive Grand Prix. It was a difficult race for us with automotive steadiness and a few tough stints however nonetheless we managed to carry the automotive house inside the highest ten once more and that’s satisfying.
“It was shut with Nico [Hülkenberg] on the finish however we have been capable of keep tempo and seize the ultimate level on benefit on monitor. We now have issues to analyse similar to why the automotive felt more durable to drive in race circumstances as I used to be sliding rather a lot.
“Even so, we have been far more aggressive this weekend and we’ve come out of it with a very good reward. We are going to intention to proceed our factors run in Austria subsequent weekend the place we’ve got two alternatives to attain factors with the Dash.”
Nico Hülkenberg — MoneyGram Haas F1 Staff — eleventh
“All in all, it was a extra constructive than unfavourable Sunday for us. We had fairly good aggressive tempo all through the race, in order that makes me pleased.
“It’s encouraging for the following couple of weeks and months. I loved the race, however it was lacking a little bit bit, in the end, we wanted a greater qualifying yesterday and to begin additional forward to have an opportunity at factors. We have to optimise our qualifying within the subsequent couple of races.”
Fernando Alonso — Aston Martin Armaco F1 Staff — twelfth
“It was disappointing to not rating any factors this weekend in entrance of the house followers. The entire weekend we’ve got struggled with our tempo, and we suffered with excessive tyre degradation in right now’s race.
“It’s prone to be robust over the following few race weekends, however we are going to get our heads down, work even more durable and look to enhance. We now have Austria subsequent weekend after which the staff’s house race at Silverstone.”
Guanyu Zhou — Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber — thirteenth
“We had a very good race right now particularly in comparison with the final couple of occasions. We have been fairly sturdy for many of the day – I hadn’t anticipated to be combating with the Haas – and the sensation is that we’ve got positively made a step ahead.
“The one blot is lap one, the place I attempted to go on the skin to achieve some locations however almost misplaced it on the gravel: nonetheless, we have been capable of get better and I really feel that, on a race the place everybody completed, P13 was essentially the most we may get.
“I’m pleased we made a step ahead, it looks like a little bit of a breakthrough, not maybe by way of outcomes however by way of feeling with the automotive: I felt much more comfy; I may put the automotive the place I needed and management it as I used to.
“It’s an enormous step and it offers us all motivation to maintain working and shutting the hole. Hopefully, we will proceed on this trajectory and be again within the factors quickly. I feel we’re a lot nearer to the place we have been at first of the season, after we have been close to the highest of the midfield, so I’ll be trying ahead to being again on monitor in Austria.”
Lance Stroll — Aston Martin Armaco F1 Staff — 14th
“We knew right now was going to be a problem, however it was nonetheless a tricky race on the market. We went for the two-stop technique and, as anticipated, plenty of the race was spent managing tyre degradation.
“We weren’t aggressive sufficient this weekend, so we’ve got work to do forward of Austria to seek out some extra efficiency.”
Daniel Ricciardo — Visa Money App RB — fifteenth
“It’s clearly disappointing ending in P15, however I’m pleased with my race and the way we managed it as a staff with the 2 stops. I feel yesterday I simply missed a contact in qualifying, however truthfully, right now I really feel like I maximised it with a very good race.
“We managed the tyres and pushed after we wanted to, so sadly, I feel we simply didn’t have extra to point out this weekend. There’s actually tons to study from weekends like this.
“We take just a few little positives and some extra issues to work on as a result of we appear to be lacking one thing with the brand new package deal. It’s a fast turnaround, so we’ll work on it tonight, attempting to know extra in preparation for Austria subsequent week.”
Valtteri Bottas — Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber — sixteenth
“We opted to separate methods right now and went for an aggressive one. The sensation on the gentle compound was fairly okay at first, as we thought that might have been right now’s finest tyre, however sadly that turned out to not be the case, as they shortly started to degrade.
“We have been compelled to an early cease, and the final stint ended up being too lengthy – as I additionally needed to do some tyre administration and couldn’t make use of our actual tempo. As a constructive to carry house from this weekend, our total efficiency this weekend gave the impression to be in a greater place in comparison with latest occasions, as seen with Zhou, who ended up in thirteenth place – which is sweet to see.
“We made some respectable progress this weekend, however we nonetheless must do extra. Waiting for Austria, the monitor structure will probably be completely different, however we’ll hopefully be capable to be within the combine once more with a very good qualifying efficiency: it’s going to be a Dash occasion, so it’ll be necessary to get the sensation proper from the beginning.”
Kevin Magnussen — MoneyGram Haas F1 Staff — seventeenth
“Sadly, I received that leap begin and that’s on me after all. I had that impulse and let it go a little bit bit, so we received the penalty, and we had a gradual cease additionally, so it’s simply been a tricky day. It’s not been a fantastic weekend right here so hopefully we will do higher in Austria.”
Alex Albon — Williams Racing — 18th
“We needed extra this weekend. On the one hand, the automotive has made an enormous step ahead in comparison with final yr and we made the appropriate decisions all through the race.”
“On the similar time, this monitor is a little bit of actuality test. On a extra conventional monitor, our lack of downforce and additional weight mixed with excessive winds and monitor temperatures held us again. With the midfield getting stronger, it’s clear we’ve received work to do. Trying forward, Austria and Silverstone ought to swimsuit us extra.”
Yuki Tsunoda — Visa Money App RB — nineteenth
“It was a tricky race, by which I struggled. The dealing with of the automotive was positively not straightforward, and I didn’t really feel as comfy as I usually do. One thing wasn’t fairly proper, and we’ll analyse all the pieces that occurred to know what didn’t work nicely and are available again stronger in Austria.”
Logan Sargeant — Williams Racing — twentieth
“That was one of many hardest races of the yr. The degradation was accumulating so shortly that it felt like I used to be managing the tyre from lap one on each stint. It’s been a tough weekend for the staff.
“Like final yr, we struggled in Barcelona however had sturdy performances in Austria and Silverstone, so we’ll look to maneuver on and bounce again on the remaining races of this triple-header.”
