In front of pole man Norris

LIVE from 3pm: Who will win the Spanish GP?

Max Verstappen celebrates in Barcelona.

(Bild: AFP/APA/Thomas COEX)

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has won the Spanish Grand Prix in commanding style, celebrating his seventh victory in the tenth race of the season. The Dutch Red Bull star triumphed unchallenged on Sunday in Barcelona ahead of pole-setter Lando Norris in the McLaren and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. It was Verstappen's third Spanish victory in a row and the 61st of his career. Sergio Perez had to settle for eighth place in the second Red Bull.

George Russell missed out on the podium in fourth place in the second "Silver Arrow" after a lightning start including leading laps. The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were unable to finish higher than fifth and sixth. In the championship standings, Verstappen extended his lead over Norris, who secured the fastest race lap and overtook Leclerc, to 69 points. The Formula 1 circus now travels on to Styria, where a sprint weekend is on the agenda at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

Max Verstappen

(Bild: AP)

Everything dry
After the spectacular rain race in Canada two weeks ago, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya remained dry on Sunday, contrary to some forecasts. Norris had secured pole position the day before, unimpressed by a fire in the team's own motorhome. However, the McLaren driver botched his start to the 1,111th Grand Prix in Formula 1 history. Verstappen squeezed past Norris on the inside, while Russell got off to a rocket start from fourth place and passed the two favorites on the outside of the first corner thanks to the slipstream.

George Russell decided the start phase in his favor.

(Bild: AFP/Josep LAGO)

The time had come on lap three
However, it only took until the third lap for Verstappen to take the race lead from Russell. The Mercedes driver was only able to maintain the pace of the triple world champion for a short time and held off Norris, Hamilton and the two Ferraris behind them. Before the first pit stops, Verstappen already had a cushion of more than four seconds, and the Red Bull pit crew finished off the world championship leader in a brisk 1.9 seconds. Norris opted for a much later pit stop and found himself in fifth place.

Lando Norris

(Bild: AP)

On the 35th of 66 laps, Norris reclaimed the role as Verstappen's first pursuer in a thrilling duel with Russell, Verstappen already having a gap of more than nine seconds at this point. With an early second pit stop, Russell and Sainz tried to inject some tension into the battle for the podium places. Verstappen also switched to the softest tire compound once again, while Norris waited a little longer. "I'm not sure, it depends on whether we want to finish first or third," said the Miami winner, discussing his strategy on the pit radio.

Here is the final result:

Norris opted for second place, coming out of the pit lane a razor-thin 19 laps from the end ahead of Russell. "Lando is not going easy on the tires," Verstappen was told, and the lead shrank to two seconds in the closing stages. But the race victory was never really in danger for the Austro racing team.

Here is the standings in the drivers' championship:

More information coming soon!