Max Verstappen has taken back the Formula One points advantage, with the reigning world champion winning the Spanish GP on Sunday to claim a third straight win, after Charles Leclercs Ferrari broke down when he was comfortably ahead. Formula One world champion Max Verstappen took the top spot on Sunday with his one-two finish at Red Bull, after retaking the top spot from Ferraris unfortunate Charles Leclerc, who retired with engine failure when leading. Max Verstappen produced a blistering performance to win the chaotic Spanish Grand Prix ahead of Sergio Perez, to cap off a Red Bull one-two at Barcelona, and in doing so, take the drivers championship lead. Max Verstappen took advantage of the retirement of Ferraris Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc to take over at the top of the drivers standings following the Dutchmans third straight victory, leading the Red Bull Racing team to a dream one-two finish at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Red Bull Teammate Sergio Perez was leading at the Spanish Grand Prix after Charles Leclercs retirement as his team told him to allow Max Verstappen past on lap 49 of 66. Ferraris Charles Leclerc suffered a power unit failure in mid-race at the Spanish Grand Prix and had to retire, leaving the previous seasons champions working alongside Sergio Perez to charge past George Russell to take the lead.
The Spanish Grand Prix looked perfectly poised between the pair up to Lap 9, with title rival Charles Leclerc leading by two seconds, but the opening spin changed the complexion of the race. Having been instructed to allow Monegasque Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to pass with 15 laps remaining, Checo Perez duly obliged, allowing Max Verstappen to cruise home for another triumph following back-to-back victories at Imola and at the first-ever Grand Prix in Miami. Red Bull used the argument that the Red Bull drivers were running a different strategy to urge Sergio Perez to let Verstappen past, with a change in positions on Lap 49 at Turn 5 allowing Verstappen to take the lead.
As Sergio Perez attempted to pick up the mantle for Red Bull, challenging George Russell, the duos fight allowed runaway leader and pole-sitter Leclerc to further break away down the road, and then, with Verstappen recovering, Red Bull allowed Verstappen past Perez from Turn 6 to challenge a defending Mercedes. With the Red Bull pit crew having earned their paychecks, Verstappen made his third stop and took a set of intermediates, coming out five seconds down on Sergio Perez, but one ahead of George Russell. Max Verstappen spun out under almost identical circumstances to Carlos Sainz, and made his frustrations about the broken DRS obvious to his team, struggling to pass Mercedes George Russell, but the retirements and some good race management by Red Bull set them up to take the one-two.
