F1 news LIVE: Lewis Hamilton reveals Spanish Grand Prix inspiration and Red Bull explain team orders
Max Verstappen triumphed at the Spanish Grand Prix after major drama saw Formula 1 title rival Charles Leclerc retire in Barcelona. There was controversy when Red Bull initiated team orders to push the world champion above Sergio Perez to boost the drivers’ championship hopes, which seemed to rile the Mexican driver. Elsewhere, Mercedes picked up some form as they look to storm back this summer after a troubling start to the F1 season and the W13 car.
Russell took third to land a podium place, despite a late scare with the Silver Arrows issuing a warning that he was a DNF candidate with the dwindling power unit. Lewis Hamilton was fifth, with home favourite Carlos Sainz salvaging some pride for the fans with a fourth place to limit the damage in the constructors’ title race.
Reacting to his heartache, Leclerc said: “I lost power and I had to stop because there was an issue. I don’t know yet what the reason is. It hurts. But there are some positives, we have shown that we were quick.”
While Hamilton added that his fifth place felt like a win: “I was thinking it was impossible to get back into points but the team said no you’re on for eighth,” Hamilton said. “I thought they were being super-optimistic. I’m glad we didn’t [retire] and it just shows you never stop and never give up and that’s what I did. A race like that is like a win, and it actually feels better than a win most often when you have come from so far back.” Follow live reaction, news and updates from the Spanish Grand Prix below:
F1 news
Lewis Hamilton reveals inspiration for Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Hamilton reveals inspiration behind Spanish Grand Prix comeback
09:50 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that a conversation with a young, terminally ill fan inspired his remarkable fightback at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Having been forced to pit after an early collision with Kevin Magnussen, the Mercedes driver dropped to 19th, more than half-a-minute behind the pack.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton stirred, however, producing a superb drive to work his way up through the field to be running fourth late on.
Lewis Hamilton reveals inspiration behind Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Renewed Hamilton full of confidence after Spanish Grand Prix comeback
09:38 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton says his brilliant comeback drive at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix has resurrected his dream of fighting for an eighth world championship.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen raced to his third victory in as many outings after Charles Leclerc was cruelly eliminated from the lead when engine gremlins struck his Ferrari on lap 27 of a sizzling race at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
Sergio Perez took second, one place ahead of Hamilton’s ever-impressive Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with Carlos Sainz fourth.
Hamilton’s race seemed doomed after just four corners when he collided with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and sustained a puncture.
The seven-time world champion stopped for repairs and emerged last but one – 30 seconds behind his nearest competitor and more than one minute off the lead. So gloomy was Hamilton’s apparent fate that he wanted to retire his car.
Lewis Hamilton full of confidence after Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Toto Wolff excited about Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes’ ‘take another step'
09:26 , Michael Jones
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton’s new car could fire him into world championship contention.
Hamilton delivered his best performance of the season at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix after fighting back from an opening-lap collision with Kevin Magnussen to finish fifth.
Hamilton might be 64 points behind new championship leader Max Verstappen following the Dutchman’s third triumph in as many rounds at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
But with 416 points still on the table and Mercedes suddenly back in the groove, Wolff is hopeful Hamilton can get back into the title hunt.
Toto Wolff excited after Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes take ‘another step’
Red Bull relaxed about Max Verstappen’s ‘road rage’ at Spanish Grand Prix
09:14 , Michael Jones
Christian Horner has said that Max Verstappen’s “road rage” during the Spanish Grand Prix was “understandable” after the Dutchman expressed his frustration over the radio in Barcelona.
Verstappen eventually took his third consecutive win in Spain, capitalising on Charles Leclerc’s retirement after engine trouble to lead home a Red Bull one-two.
The 24-year-old was not happy, however, with a faulty DRS that worked only intermittently during the race, having also lost out on a chance at pole in qualifying due to a loss of power on his final lap.
Red Bull relaxed about Max Verstappen’s ‘road rage’ at Spanish Grand Prix
Mercedes have ‘new parts in the pipleline'
09:04 , Lawrence Ostlere
Mercedes‘ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has said there are “new parts in the pipeline” after an impressive showing at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Mercedes have grown into the new F1 season after a slow start, and although they remain off the pace of Ferrari and Red Bull, there were signs in Barcelona that George Russell and Lewis Hamilton could be getting back into contention.
Russell battled to a third-place finish while Hamilton fought from the back of the pack after a disatrous start to finish fifth, and Mercedes now plan to improve the car further before the next race in Monaco.
Full story:
Mercedes tease upgrades for Monaco Grand Prix after Barcelona improvement
Drake loses £185k bet on Leclerc
08:52 , Lawrence Ostlere
Canadian rapper Drake was left particularly disappointed by Charles Leclerc’s retirement from the Spanish Grand Prix, revealing that he had bet £185,000 on the Ferrari driver to win the race in Barcelona.
Leclerc had established a dominant lead at the sixth race of the Formula 1 season and appeared likely to cruise to victory, but his engine failed six laps after his first pit stop and the Monegasque could not continue.
Drake claimed ahead of the race that he had placed a bet on F1 for the first time, placing a wager of CA$300,000 (£185,000) with a potential return of CA$750,000 (£467,000) if Leclerc claimed victory.
Full story:
Drake loses £185k bet on Charles Leclerc at Spanish Grand Prix
Vettel had bag stolen in Barcelona
08:39 , Lawrence Ostlere
Sebastian Vettel has been subjected to a robbery after a bag belonging to the four-time Formula One world champion was taken in Barcelona on Monday morning.
Vettel, who was unharmed in the incident, set off in pursuit of the stolen property by using the Find My iPhone application connected to his AirPods.
But although the 34-year-old German managed to track down his earphones, the bag and other items inside have not been found.
Full story:
Sebastian Vettel has bag stolen in Barcelona after Spanish Grand Prix
Fernando Alonso open to joining top team, even as No 2 driver
08:23 , Jack Rathborn
Fernando Alonso is open to taking a seat at a top team next season, even if he has to compete against a consensus No 1 driver, such as Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
The Spaniard’s contract with Alpine expires at the end of this season, with talks due to begin over an extension in July.
“I think so,” Alonso told Sky Sports F1 when asked if he could land a third World Championship. “That’s why I keep racing, you know?
“There is still always the hope that one year you will have the package and you will have the, you know, all things together to fight for the championship. I still feel competitive and I’m fast.
“Yeah, sure,” he added when pushed on the possibility of joining a top team where he may have to be the No 2 behind a top driver, such as Red Bull, with Sergio Perez’s contract up for renewal at the end of the season.
“I think at the end of the day there are not many number one, two drivers in any team right now.
“All the teams need both drivers to work together and to improve the car, especially with the new regulations.
“You still learn every lap you do and you have to work towards a better car, a better package. So let’s see what are the possibilities into the next few years.”
Toto Wolff reveals ‘morale boost’ after Mercedes upgrades
08:19 , Jack Rathborn
Toto Wolff admits Mercedes secured a “morale boost” after the Spanish Grand Prix.
“The relationship, the dynamic between the driver and the team is something that is so important,” Wolff said.
“It’s clear, in having an accident in the early stage of the race, you are saying to yourself ‘Not again!’ and you are not featuring.
“He was 38 seconds or so behind the last cars after his stop and that’s basically game over but him then showing his very good pace was important for not only his morale but also our morale.
“Who would have thought he would climb all the way to fourth before the problem came up. It looked like a world championship-winning race car he was driving. That was not possible in the previous races.
“It reminded me of last year and the years before when the car and driver are on top of their game.”
Kevin Magnussen clarifies ‘heat of the moment’ radio message about Lewis Hamilton
Monday 23 May 2022 19:00 , Michael Jones
Kevin Magnussen has said he will have to watch back his opening-lap collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish Grand Prix, moving to clarify a comment made in the “heat of the moment” soon after the incident.
Magnussen’s Haas took contact from the seven-time world champion’s Mercedes as the Danish driver looked to pass Hamilton at Turn Four in Barcelona having made a strong start.
While Hamilton was able to battle up to fifth having dropped to 19th after the incident, a run into the gravel ended Magnussen’s hopes of scoring points, eventually crossing the line 17th.
Kevin Magnussen clarifies ‘heat of the moment’ radio message about Lewis Hamilton
‘You bet we can’: Toto Wolff talks up Mercedes’ F1 title chances after Spanish Grand Prix
Monday 23 May 2022 18:45 , Michael Jones
Toto Wolff believes that Mercedes can still fight their way into the Formula 1 world title fight after an encouraging weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The German team produced their most complete performance of the season in Barcelona, looking closer to matching early front-runners Red Bull and Ferrari.
Continuing a run of top-five finishes to start the season for his new team, George Russell finished third, two places ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton.
‘You bet we can’: Toto Wolff talks up Mercedes’ F1 title chances
‘Like the olden days!’ Lewis Hamilton full of confidence after Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Monday 23 May 2022 18:30 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton says his brilliant comeback drive at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix has resurrected his dream of fighting for an eighth world championship.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen raced to his third victory in as many outings after Charles Leclerc was cruelly eliminated from the lead when engine gremlins struck his Ferrari on lap 27 of a sizzling race at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
Sergio Perez took second, one place ahead of Hamilton’s ever-impressive Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with Carlos Sainz fourth.
Lewis Hamilton full of confidence after Spanish Grand Prix comeback
‘We’ve made another step’: Toto Wolff excited about Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ prospects
Monday 23 May 2022 18:15 , Michael Jones
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton’s new car could fire him into world championship contention.
Hamilton delivered his best performance of the season at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix after fighting back from an opening-lap collision with Kevin Magnussen to finish fifth.
Hamilton might be 64 points behind new championship leader Max Verstappen following the Dutchman’s third triumph in as many rounds at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
Toto Wolff excited after Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes take ‘another step’
Mercedes tease F1 upgrades for Monaco Grand Prix after Barcelona improvement
Monday 23 May 2022 18:00 , Michael Jones
Mercedes‘ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has said there are “new parts in the pipeline” after an impressive showing at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Mercedes have grown into the new F1 season after a slow start, and although they remain off the pace of Ferrari and Red Bull, there were signs in Barcelona that George Russell and Lewis Hamilton could be getting back into contention.
Russell battled to a third-place finish while Hamilton fought from the back of the pack after a disatrous start to finish fifth, and Mercedes now plan to improve the car further before the next race in Monaco.
Mercedes tease upgrades for Monaco Grand Prix after Barcelona improvement
Drake loses £185k bet on Charles Leclerc at Spanish Grand Prix
Monday 23 May 2022 17:45 , Michael Jones
Canadian rapper Drake was left particularly disappointed by Charles Leclerc’s retirement from the Spanish Grand Prix, revealing that he had bet £185,000 on the Ferrari driver to win the race in Barcelona.
Leclerc had established a dominant lead at the sixth race of the Formula 1 season and appeared likely to cruise to victory, but his engine failed six laps after his first pit stop and the Monegasque could not continue.
It allowed Max Verstappen to take top spot in the Drivers’ Championship standings with a third consecutive race victory.
Drake loses £185k bet on Charles Leclerc at Spanish Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc highlights ‘plenty of positive signs’ despite Ferrari retirement
Monday 23 May 2022 17:30 , Michael Jones
Charles Leclerc insists there were still plenty of positives to take from the Spanish Grand Prix despite the Ferrari driver recording his first DNF of the 2022 season.
Leclerc had dominated practice, took pole in Barcelona and looked to be on course for victory in Sunday’s race until an engine failure forced him to retire.
Max Verstappen took full advantage and a third consecutive race win for the reigning world champion saw him take a six-point lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.
Charles Leclerc highlights ‘plenty of positive signs’ despite Ferrari retirement
Red Bull relaxed about Max Verstappen’s ‘road rage’ at Spanish Grand Prix
Monday 23 May 2022 17:15 , Michael Jones
Christian Horner has said that Max Verstappen’s “road rage” during the Spanish Grand Prix was “understandable” after the Dutchman expressed his frustration over the radio in Barcelona.
Verstappen eventually took his third consecutive win in Spain, capitalising on Charles Leclerc’s retirement after engine trouble to lead home a Red Bull one-two.
The 24-year-old was not happy, however, with a faulty DRS that worked only intermittently during the race, having also lost out on a chance at pole in qualifying due to a loss of power on his final lap.
“We can’t even make the f****** DRS work, unbelievable!” Verstappen fumed over team radio after one moment of DRS disruption.
Red Bull relaxed about Max Verstappen’s ‘road rage’ at Spanish Grand Prix
Verstappen addresses DRS problems
Monday 23 May 2022 17:05 , Michael Jones
A problem with his DRS system was a worrying thought for Max Verstappen who says it wasn’t easy to drive and diagnose the malfunction at the same time as moving up through the field to fight for first place.
“I mean, I could have shouted [something] back on the radio, but there is nothing you can do.” he said, “I’m not stupid; once you get the light and the activation beep then you press the… paddle and if it doesn’t open, there’s clearly an issue.
“I spammed it like 50 times at one point on the straight and it’s just not opening, so there was clearly an issue. I tried all different kinds of things: stay off the kerb, on the kerb, open it a tiny bit later. It was just broken or malfunctioning so yes, we clearly have an issue there on this wing.”
Verstappen enjoyed ‘tough battle’ with Russell
Monday 23 May 2022 16:57 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen earned his third win of the season as part of a one-two finish for Red Bull in the Spanish Grand Prix and broke down his race after the chequered flag touching on his DRS issues and how he was left frustrated trying to get past Mercedes’ George Russell.
“A bit of a race with two halves,” said Verstappen, “because the first 30 laps were very frustrating for me after I went off in Turn 4, first of all, which really caught me by surprise because I didn’t feel like I was actually braking later or throwing more speed into the corner. But it was very gusty out there today… that caught me out by surprise, that was not ideal of course.
“Of course I was a bit frustrated at the time because I couldn’t get [Russell] because of DRS issues, but the fight itself was really cool also. I think that lap where I did go down the outside and George went around the outside and I was around the outside of Turn 3 again, I think that was a really cool fight.
“I look back at it and I’ll smile now; at the time of course I was a little bit frustrated. But it was a really good and tough battle, I think.”
Max Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix to move top of standings after Charles Leclerc retirement
Monday 23 May 2022 16:43 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen leads the F1 world championship after romping to victory at a thrilling Spanish Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver took advantage of Charles Leclerc’s mechanical failure on lap 27 of 66 before performing out of his skin to deliver his third win in as many races.
Sergio Perez completed a one-two finish for Red Bull, as George Russell secured third, following another fine performance from the young Briton, with Carlos Sainz fourth.
Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix to move top of standings after Leclerc retirement
More from Hamilton
Monday 23 May 2022 16:30 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton says he was gutted to lose out on a fourth placed finish to Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz especially after fighting from te back of the field but he is happy with his performance nonetheless.
“It was a lot hotter than predicted today, so for everyone, it was quite tough with these cars,” said Hamilton. “I don’t know exactly what went on with the car, I’ve not spoken with the team… but I had to just drive it at half throttle and try to cool the car, lots and lots of lifting down the main straight to try and get fresh air into the engine just to try and cool it down.
“I was so gutted to lose the place to Sainz, especially after coming from where I came from, you know. I mean, I was 30-plus seconds behind [the pack]. That’s like no-man’s land, and I tell you, it’s a horrible feeling being that far behind. But you just have to kind of keep your head up, just keep pushing, keep going and hoping for better.
“They said I could maybe get to eighth, and eighth doesn’t feel like a particularly impressive result! But I was like, at least I’ll get into the points. So to then be fighting for fourth, I was so happy with that.
“I hope that this continues in these next races, we will see.”
Hamilton ‘ruing’ collision with Magnussen
Monday 23 May 2022 16:17 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton’s run of Spanish Grand Prix victories came to an end on Sunday but the seven-time champion was delighted with his performance at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after he recovered to P5, having been 19th at the end of the first lap following a collision with Kevin Magnussen.
Magnussen challenged Hamilton around the outside of Turn 4 on when the pair touched, the Haas skipping into the gravel and Hamilton suffering a puncture. After making it back to the pits Hamilton then looked set for a long afternoon and at one point imploring his Mercedes team to retire him and save his engine.
But, he fought back brilliantly and flew through the field to claim a P5 finish.
“The car felt great in the race” said Hamilton afterwards, “Our pace was closer to the rest, the top guys in the race, which was amazing,
“Just really unfortunate at the start to have got the puncture that we got [in the Magnussen contact]. But I didn’t give up, because that’s what we do.
“But jeez, if I hadn’t had that issue at the beginning, who knows where we would have been in the end. But it’s great to know that we had similar pace to some of the frontrunners.”
‘The season starts now’ says Russell
Monday 23 May 2022 16:03 , Michael Jones
George Russell says that Mercedes’ season ‘starts now’ after finishing third in the Spanish Grand Prix. Teammate Lewis Hamilton fought back from a collision on the opening lap to claim P5 but it was an impressive performance from Mercedes who have been off the pace for most of the season.
“Yes, I mean, it feels great to be on the podium and I think this showed the hard work and effort that’s gone on at the factory both at Brackley and Brixworth.” said Russell after the race,
“We’ve always said, you have to be there at the end to pick up the pieces, to pick up the points, especially on days like today.
“It was incredibly tough out there for the cars and the drivers. But I feel like we’re making progress and I feel like we, as a team, have turned a page and I feel like this is probably the start of our season now.”
Mick Schumacher could be replaced by ‘queue’ of potential F1 drivers at Haas, warns Gunther Steiner
Monday 23 May 2022 15:52 , Michael Jones
Haas team principal Gunther Steiner says “a queue of drivers” could potentially replace Mick Schumacher if the German’s Formula 1 performances don’t improve.
The 23-year-old Schumacher, son of seven-time world champion Michael, is one of only two full-time drivers who have failed to score at least one point in the opening rounds of the 2022 season, alongside Williams’ Nicholas Latifi.
In his debut campaign last year Schumacher was driving by far the worst car on the F1 grid, with Haas unable to challenge for a top ten finish at any point in the season. The American-owned outfit wrote the year off in order to concentrate their development efforts on 2022, and so far their strategy appears to be paying dividends, with the squad moving up the grid order into the midfield after the biggest regulation change F1 has undergone in a generation.
Mick Schumacher could be replaced by ‘queue’ of drivers, warns Gunther Steiner
Fernando Alonso blasts F1 race control and stewards as ‘incompetent’ after Miami penalties
Monday 23 May 2022 15:40 , Michael Jones
Fernando Alonso has slammed Formula 1’s stewards and the FIA’s new race control setup, calling the officiating in the top tier of motorsport “incompetent” and “not very professional”.
Alonso, 40, is the most experienced driver on the F1 grid and is set to overtake former Ferrari and Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen’s record of 349 grand prix starts during the course of the 2022 campaign, but has been left unimpressed with the new structure put in place by FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem, who was elected to replace the outgoing Jean Todt last December.
Former race director Michael Masi was sacked by the FIA in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of last year, when Max Verstappen won his debut world championship after Masi’s unprecedented interpretation of the safety car rules rendered race leader Lewis Hamilton a sitting duck and effectively gifted the title to Verstappen.
Fernando Alonso blasts F1 race control as ‘incompetent’ after Miami penalties
‘It’s like heading heavy footballs’: George Russell fears ‘health consequences’ of porpoising in F1
Monday 23 May 2022 15:28 , Michael Jones
George Russell fears Formula One drivers could be exposed to long-term head trauma if the sport’s ‘porpoising’ phenomenon is not resolved.
The British driver compared the new-for-2022 sensation - when the car violently bounces on its suspension at high speed - to football’s dementia problem.
A recent study showed former professional footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to die from the disease than the general population.
Mercedes have visibly suffered with porpoising more than most following the introduction of new aerodynamic rules.
But Ferrari - despite their driver Charles Leclerc holding a 19-point title lead over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix - have also suffered.
George Russell fears ‘health consequences’ of F1’s porpoising problem
When and where is the next Formula One race?
Monday 23 May 2022 15:19 , Michael Jones
The Formula One season is in full swing as the drivers prepare for the seventh race of the most extensive calendar in the sport’s history.
So far, Max Verstappen has secured four wins and sits atop the Driver’s Championship after a retirement issue to Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in Spain.
Red Bull and Ferrari’s rivalry continues to bubble away nicely, with the two teams separated bya small number of points in the Constructors’ Championship.
Elsewhere on the grid, Mercedes look to be making progress after an extremely strong weekend in Catalunya.
Here is everything you need to know:
When and where is the next Formula One race?
‘You bet we can’: Toto Wolff talks up Mercedes’ F1 title chances after Spanish Grand Prix
Monday 23 May 2022 15:10 , Michael Jones
Toto Wolff believes that Mercedes can still fight their way into the Formula 1 world title fight after an encouraging weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The German team produced their most complete performance of the season in Barcelona, looking closer to matching early front-runners Red Bull and Ferrari.
Continuing a run of top-five finishes to start the season for his new team, George Russell finished third, two places ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton.
‘You bet we can’: Toto Wolff talks up Mercedes’ F1 title chances
Mercedes tease F1 upgrades for Monaco Grand Prix after Barcelona improvement
Monday 23 May 2022 14:52 , Michael Jones
Mercedes‘ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has said there are “new parts in the pipeline” after an impressive showing at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Mercedes have grown into the new F1 season after a slow start, and although they remain off the pace of Ferrari and Red Bull, there were signs in Barcelona that George Russell and Lewis Hamilton could be getting back into contention.
Russell battled to a third-place finish while Hamilton fought from the back of the pack after a disatrous start to finish fifth, and Mercedes now plan to improve the car further before the next race in Monaco.
Mercedes tease upgrades for Monaco Grand Prix after Barcelona improvement
Kevin Magnussen clarifies ‘heat of the moment’ radio message about Lewis Hamilton
Monday 23 May 2022 14:43 , Michael Jones
Kevin Magnussen has said he will have to watch back his opening-lap collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish Grand Prix, moving to clarify a comment made in the “heat of the moment” soon after the incident.
Magnussen’s Haas took contact from the seven-time world champion’s Mercedes as the Danish driver looked to pass Hamilton at Turn Four in Barcelona having made a strong start.
While Hamilton was able to battle up to fifth having dropped to 19th after the incident, a run into the gravel ended Magnussen’s hopes of scoring points, eventually crossing the line 17th.
In the immediacy of the incident, the Haas driver accused Hamilton of deliberately causing contact on the radio to his team, suggesting “Lewis knew what he was doing there, he rammed me”.
The stewards were content that the clash did not require further intervention or punishment, and Magnussen admitted afterwards that he may not have been correct to be angry at Hamilton, saying the comment meant “nothing” and that he will have to review the incident.
Kevin Magnussen clarifies ‘heat of the moment’ radio message about Lewis Hamilton
‘We’ve made another step’: Toto Wolff excited about Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ prospects
Monday 23 May 2022 14:28 , Michael Jones
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton’s new car could fire him into world championship contention.
Hamilton delivered his best performance of the season at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix after fighting back from an opening-lap collision with Kevin Magnussen to finish fifth.
Hamilton might be 64 points behind new championship leader Max Verstappen following the Dutchman’s third triumph in as many rounds at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
Toto Wolff excited after Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes take ‘another step’
Charles Leclerc highlights ‘plenty of positive signs’ despite Ferrari retirement
Monday 23 May 2022 14:14 , Michael Jones
Charles Leclerc insists there were still plenty of positives to take from the Spanish Grand Prix despite the Ferrari driver recording his first DNF of the 2022 season.
Leclerc had dominated practice, took pole in Barcelona and looked to be on course for victory in Sunday’s race until an engine failure forced him to retire.
Max Verstappen took full advantage and a third consecutive race win for the reigning world champion saw him take a six-point lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.
Despite that, Leclerc said he was encouraged by the pace of his car and its superior tyre management.
Charles Leclerc highlights ‘plenty of positive signs’ despite Ferrari retirement
Red Bull relaxed about Max Verstappen’s ‘road rage’ at Spanish Grand Prix
Monday 23 May 2022 14:00 , Michael Jones
Christian Horner has said that Max Verstappen’s “road rage” during the Spanish Grand Prix was “understandable” after the Dutchman expressed his frustration over the radio in Barcelona.
Verstappen eventually took his third consecutive win in Spain, capitalising on Charles Leclerc’s retirement after engine trouble to lead home a Red Bull one-two.
The 24-year-old was not happy, however, with a faulty DRS that worked only intermittently during the race, having also lost out on a chance at pole in qualifying due to a loss of power on his final lap.
“We can’t even make the f****** DRS work, unbelievable!” Verstappen fumed over team radio after one moment of DRS disruption.
Red Bull relaxed about Max Verstappen’s ‘road rage’ at Spanish Grand Prix
‘One of the hardest races ever’ says Norris
Monday 23 May 2022 13:50 , Michael Jones
Lando Norris underwent medical checks after finishing the Spanish Grand Prix in eighth for McLaren with the Briton suffering from tonsillitis throughout the race.
It was no secret that Norris had been unwell across the Spanish weekend, and the signs were not good when TV pictures showed him looking rather nauseous at the side of the track ahead of the race start.
“Today was tough,” said Norris afterwards. “I was feeling really unwell before the race as I’m suffering with tonsillitis, and that, in combination with the high temperatures, made this one of the hardest races I’ve ever done.
“I’ve been a bit on the backfoot this weekend as most of my energy has been spent fighting off this illness. I’ve had to miss a lot of engineering sessions, which has compromised my weekend, and I definitely wasn’t as prepared for the Grand Prix as I could have been. With that in mind, I’m really pleased to have come out of the race with decent points for the team.”
Lewis Hamilton reveals inspiration behind Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Monday 23 May 2022 13:42 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that a conversation with a young, terminally ill fan inspired his remarkable fightback at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Having been forced to pit after an early collision with Kevin Magnussen, the Mercedes driver dropped to 19th, more than half-a-minute behind the pack.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton stirred, however, producing a superb drive to work his way up through the field to be running fourth late on.
Lewis Hamilton reveals inspiration behind Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Lewis Hamilton reveals inspiration for Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Monday 23 May 2022 13:30 , Jack Rathborn
Lewis Hamilton has revealed how a terminally ill five-year-old fan inspired him to pull off a stunning Spanish Grand Prix comeback.
Hamilton said when asked if he took more satisfaction scrapping for fourth and fifth: “One-hundred per cent!
“A race like that is like a win and feels better, most often, than a win when you have come from so far back. Ultimately, there was a lot of adversity coming from so far back.
“There was a young girl that I spoke to [on Saturday] who was my inspiration. Isla, a five-year-old that is terminally ill and she said ‘Will you win the race for me’.
“I said I don’t know if we will win but I will give it everything. So hopefully for me, that was a bit like a win and I would like to dedicate it to her.”
Christian Horner defends Red Bull team orders at Spanish Grand Prix
Monday 23 May 2022 13:18 , Michael Jones
Christian Horner has defended the team orders given by Red Bull during the Spanish Grand Prix as “the right thing to do”.
After the retirement of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc from the lead, Sergio Perez was asked to relinquish first place by his team, helping to clear the way for Max Verstappen to take his third consecutive race win ahead of his teammate.
Perez suggested on the radio after the race that he may not have been particularly pleased with Red Bull’s decision, saying: “I’m happy for the team, but we need to speak later.”
However Horner has insisted that it was the sensible option, with the team principal not willing to risk potentially missing out on a significant amount of points by letting the drivers fight it out, particularly with DRS working only intermittently.
Christian Horner defends Red Bull team orders at Spanish Grand Prix
Verstappen addresses DRS problems
Monday 23 May 2022 13:10 , Michael Jones
A problem with his DRS system was a worrying thought for Max Verstappen who says it wasn’t easy to drive and diagnose the malfunction at the same time as moving up through the field to fight for first place.
“I mean, I could have shouted [something] back on the radio, but there is nothing you can do.” he said, “I’m not stupid; once you get the light and the activation beep then you press the… paddle and if it doesn’t open, there’s clearly an issue.
“I spammed it like 50 times at one point on the straight and it’s just not opening, so there was clearly an issue. I tried all different kinds of things: stay off the kerb, on the kerb, open it a tiny bit later. It was just broken or malfunctioning so yes, we clearly have an issue there on this wing.”
Verstappen enjoyed ‘tough battle’ with Russell
Monday 23 May 2022 12:57 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen earned his third win of the season as part of a one-two finish for Red Bull in the Spanish Grand Prix and broke down his race after the chequered flag touching on his DRS issues and how he was left frustrated trying to get past Mercedes’ George Russell.
“A bit of a race with two halves,” said Verstappen, “because the first 30 laps were very frustrating for me after I went off in Turn 4, first of all, which really caught me by surprise because I didn’t feel like I was actually braking later or throwing more speed into the corner. But it was very gusty out there today… that caught me out by surprise, that was not ideal of course.
“Of course I was a bit frustrated at the time because I couldn’t get [Russell] because of DRS issues, but the fight itself was really cool also. I think that lap where I did go down the outside and George went around the outside and I was around the outside of Turn 3 again, I think that was a really cool fight.
“I look back at it and I’ll smile now; at the time of course I was a little bit frustrated. But it was a really good and tough battle, I think.”
‘Like the olden days!’ Lewis Hamilton full of confidence after Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Monday 23 May 2022 12:43 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton says his brilliant comeback drive at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix has resurrected his dream of fighting for an eighth world championship.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen raced to his third victory in as many outings after Charles Leclerc was cruelly eliminated from the lead when engine gremlins struck his Ferrari on lap 27 of a sizzling race at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
Sergio Perez took second, one place ahead of Hamilton’s ever-impressive Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with Carlos Sainz fourth.
Lewis Hamilton full of confidence after Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Christian Horner claims Max Verstappen could have overtaken Sergio Perez despite DRS issues
Monday 23 May 2022 12:30 , Michael Jones
Christian Horner has dismissed the potential for Sergio Perez to defend his lead at the Spanish Grand Prix, rather than concede to teammate Max Verstappen after team orders.
“DRS was working intermittently. So it worked one lap not the next,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.
“And I think from a team point of view, the offset was so great between the two of them. I mean, Max was at that stage, because the tyre delts are about two seconds a lap quicker. It just didn’t make sense to let them fight it out.
“I think we discuss it you know openly, I think he see the race plot,” said Horner of Perez. You see how, I think close to 30 laps to do on that medium tyre, which in the end we needed to pit to make sure we covered Russell’s so in the heat of the moment, you’re gonna understand he’s a racing driver. If he wasn’t pushing those things, he’s not doing his job.”
Max Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix to move top of standings after Charles Leclerc retirement
Monday 23 May 2022 12:17 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen leads the F1 world championship after romping to victory at a thrilling Spanish Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver took advantage of Charles Leclerc’s mechanical failure on lap 27 of 66 before performing out of his skin to deliver his third win in as many races.
Sergio Perez completed a one-two finish for Red Bull, as George Russell secured third, following another fine performance from the young Briton, with Carlos Sainz fourth.
Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix to move top of standings after Leclerc retirement
Kevin Magnussen clarifies ‘heat of the moment’ radio message about Lewis Hamilton
Monday 23 May 2022 12:06 , Michael Jones
Kevin Magnussen has said he will have to watch back his opening-lap collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish Grand Prix, moving to clarify a comment made in the “heat of the moment” soon after the incident.
Magnussen’s Haas took contact from the seven-time world champion’s Mercedes as the Danish driver looked to pass Hamilton at Turn Four in Barcelona having made a strong start.
While Hamilton was able to battle up to fifth having dropped to 19th after the incident, a run into the gravel ended Magnussen’s hopes of scoring points, eventually crossing the line 17th.
Kevin Magnussen clarifies ‘heat of the moment’ radio message about Lewis Hamilton
Mick Schumacher could be replaced by ‘queue’ of potential F1 drivers at Haas, warns Gunther Steiner
Monday 23 May 2022 11:56 , Michael Jones
Haas team principal Gunther Steiner says “a queue of drivers” could potentially replace Mick Schumacher if the German’s Formula 1 performances don’t improve.
The 23-year-old Schumacher, son of seven-time world champion Michael, is one of only two full-time drivers who have failed to score at least one point in the opening rounds of the 2022 season, alongside Williams’ Nicholas Latifi.
In his debut campaign last year Schumacher was driving by far the worst car on the F1 grid, with Haas unable to challenge for a top ten finish at any point in the season. The American-owned outfit wrote the year off in order to concentrate their development efforts on 2022, and so far their strategy appears to be paying dividends, with the squad moving up the grid order into the midfield after the biggest regulation change F1 has undergone in a generation.
Mick Schumacher could be replaced by ‘queue’ of drivers, warns Gunther Steiner
Fernando Alonso blasts F1 race control and stewards as ‘incompetent’ after Miami penalties
Monday 23 May 2022 11:45 , Michael Jones
Fernando Alonso has slammed Formula 1’s stewards and the FIA’s new race control setup, calling the officiating in the top tier of motorsport “incompetent” and “not very professional”.
Alonso, 40, is the most experienced driver on the F1 grid and is set to overtake former Ferrari and Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen’s record of 349 grand prix starts during the course of the 2022 campaign, but has been left unimpressed with the new structure put in place by FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem, who was elected to replace the outgoing Jean Todt last December.
Former race director Michael Masi was sacked by the FIA in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of last year, when Max Verstappen won his debut world championship after Masi’s unprecedented interpretation of the safety car rules rendered race leader Lewis Hamilton a sitting duck and effectively gifted the title to Verstappen.
Fernando Alonso blasts F1 race control as ‘incompetent’ after Miami penalties
‘It’s like heading heavy footballs’: George Russell fears ‘health consequences’ of porpoising in F1
Monday 23 May 2022 11:34 , Michael Jones
George Russell fears Formula One drivers could be exposed to long-term head trauma if the sport’s ‘porpoising’ phenomenon is not resolved.
The British driver compared the new-for-2022 sensation - when the car violently bounces on its suspension at high speed - to football’s dementia problem.
A recent study showed former professional footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to die from the disease than the general population.
Mercedes have visibly suffered with porpoising more than most following the introduction of new aerodynamic rules.
But Ferrari - despite their driver Charles Leclerc holding a 19-point title lead over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix - have also suffered.
George Russell fears ‘health consequences’ of F1’s porpoising problem
When and where is the next Formula One race?
Monday 23 May 2022 11:23 , Michael Jones
The Formula One season is in full swing as the drivers prepare for the seventh race of the most extensive calendar in the sport’s history.
So far, Max Verstappen has secured four wins and sits atop the Driver’s Championship after a retirement issue to Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in Spain.
Red Bull and Ferrari’s rivalry continues to bubble away nicely, with the two teams separated bya small number of points in the Constructors’ Championship.
Elsewhere on the grid, Mercedes look to be making progress after an extremely strong weekend in Catalunya. Here is everything you need to know:
When and where is the next Formula One race?
Christian Horner defends Red Bull team orders at Spanish Grand Prix
Monday 23 May 2022 11:15 , Michael Jones
Christian Horner has defended the team orders given by Red Bull during the Spanish Grand Prix as “the right thing to do”.
After the retirement of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc from the lead, Sergio Perez was asked to relinquish first place by his team, helping to clear the way for Max Verstappen to take his third consecutive race win ahead of his teammate.
Perez suggested on the radio after the race that he may not have been particularly pleased with Red Bull’s decision, saying: “I’m happy for the team, but we need to speak later.”
However Horner has insisted that it was the sensible option, with the team principal not willing to risk potentially missing out on a significant amount of points by letting the drivers fight it out, particularly with DRS working only intermittently.
Christian Horner defends Red Bull team orders at Spanish Grand Prix
‘You bet we can’: Toto Wolff talks up Mercedes’ F1 title chances after Spanish Grand Prix
Monday 23 May 2022 11:05 , Michael Jones
Toto Wolff believes that Mercedes can still fight their way into the Formula 1 world title fight after an encouraging weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The German team produced their most complete performance of the season in Barcelona, looking closer to matching early front-runners Red Bull and Ferrari.
Continuing a run of top-five finishes to start the season for his new team, George Russell finished third, two places ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton.
‘You bet we can’: Toto Wolff talks up Mercedes’ F1 title chances
More from Hamilton
Monday 23 May 2022 10:52 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton says he was gutted to lose out on a fourth placed finish to Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz especially after fighting from te back of the field but he is happy with his performance nonetheless.
“It was a lot hotter than predicted today, so for everyone, it was quite tough with these cars,” said Hamilton. “I don’t know exactly what went on with the car, I’ve not spoken with the team… but I had to just drive it at half throttle and try to cool the car, lots and lots of lifting down the main straight to try and get fresh air into the engine just to try and cool it down.
“I was so gutted to lose the place to Sainz, especially after coming from where I came from, you know. I mean, I was 30-plus seconds behind [the pack]. That’s like no-man’s land, and I tell you, it’s a horrible feeling being that far behind. But you just have to kind of keep your head up, just keep pushing, keep going and hoping for better.
“They said I could maybe get to eighth, and eighth doesn’t feel like a particularly impressive result! But I was like, at least I’ll get into the points. So to then be fighting for fourth, I was so happy with that.
“I hope that this continues in these next races, we will see.”
Hamilton ‘ruing’ collision with Magnussen
Monday 23 May 2022 10:44 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton’s run of Spanish Grand Prix victories came to an end on Sunday but the seven-time champion was delighted with his performance at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after he recovered to P5, having been 19th at the end of the first lap following a collision with Kevin Magnussen.
Magnussen challenged Hamilton around the outside of Turn 4 on when the pair touched, the Haas skipping into the gravel and Hamilton suffering a puncture. After making it back to the pits Hamilton then looked set for a long afternoon and at one point imploring his Mercedes team to retire him and save his engine.
But, he fought back brilliantly and flew through the field to claim a P5 finish.
“The car felt great in the race” said Hamilton afterwards, “Our pace was closer to the rest, the top guys in the race, which was amazing,
“Just really unfortunate at the start to have got the puncture that we got [in the Magnussen contact]. But I didn’t give up, because that’s what we do.
“But jeez, if I hadn’t had that issue at the beginning, who knows where we would have been in the end. But it’s great to know that we had similar pace to some of the frontrunners.”
F1 opts against replacing cancelled Russian GP with another race
Monday 23 May 2022 10:34 , Michael Jones
Formula One has reduced the current season from 23 races to 22 after opting against replacing the cancelled Russian Grand Prix.
The Sochi race, which was originally scheduled to take place on September 25, was pulled from the calendar in late February following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
F1 bosses subsequently cancelled its contract with the Russian Grand Prix, which had been due to move to Igora Drive, 40 miles north of St Petersburg, from next year.
Reports initially suggested this year’s round-17 gap could be filled by a return to Qatar – which hosted its first grand prix last year – or a second race in Singapore. But organisers have confirmed the schedule will be shortened.
F1 opts against replacing cancelled Russian GP with another race
Lance Stroll rejects suggestion Aston Martin copied Red Bull with new design
Monday 23 May 2022 10:22 , Michael Jones
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll has defended Aston Martin’s revamped Formula 1 car design, which has been criticised for its striking resemblance to the Red Bull.
The Silverstone-based squad has started the 2022 season in poor form, and is ninth in the constructors’ standings after the opening five rounds of the campaign, ahead only of Williams.
Back in 2020, when the team was still known as Racing Point, they caused enormous controversy by copying the design of the 2019 Mercedes car which had won the world championship. The car became known as the Pink Mercedes and saw the team leapfrog multiple teams and allowed it to compete for podiums and even race victories.
Lance Stroll rejects suggestion Aston Martin copied Red Bull with new design
Red Bull chief claims evidence shows Aston Martin downloaded data in F1 car copy row
Monday 23 May 2022 10:15 , Michael Jones
Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko claims evidence exists showing that Aston Martin have downloaded some of his team’s data to help them build a new Formula 1 car which bears an uncanny resemblance to Red Bull’s.
Aston Martin arrived in Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this week with a completely revamped version of their AMR22, which made its on-track debut during practice on Friday. The re-designed halo, sidepods, and engine cover on the Aston Martin are all very similar to the parts Red Bull have been running all season long, with their RB18 car the frontrunner at the past two grands prix in Imola and Miami.
The changes made to the Aston Martin have led to fans and pundits referring to it as the ‘Green Red Bull’, and the fact the car bears little resemblance to the version the team has been running throughout the season means accusations of copying have emerged. Motorsport governing body the FIA approved the design during an inspection earlier this week, but Red Bull released a statement on Friday in which they implied they do not consider the matter to be closed.
Red Bull chief claims evidence shows Aston Martin downloaded data in F1 car copy row
‘The season starts now’ says Russell
Monday 23 May 2022 10:08 , Michael Jones
George Russell says that Mercedes’ season ‘starts now’ after finishing third in the Spanish Grand Prix. Teammate Lewis Hamilton fought back from a collision on the opening lap to claim P5 but it was an impressive performance from Mercedes who have been off the pace for most of the season.
“Yes, I mean, it feels great to be on the podium and I think this showed the hard work and effort that’s gone on at the factory both at Brackley and Brixworth.” said Russell after the race,
“We’ve always said, you have to be there at the end to pick up the pieces, to pick up the points, especially on days like today.
“It was incredibly tough out there for the cars and the drivers. But I feel like we’re making progress and I feel like we, as a team, have turned a page and I feel like this is probably the start of our season now.”
Lewis Hamilton reveals inspiration behind Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Monday 23 May 2022 10:00 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that a conversation with a young, terminally ill fan inspired his remarkable fightback at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Having been forced to pit after an early collision with Kevin Magnussen, the Mercedes driver dropped to 19th, more than half-a-minute behind the pack.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton stirred, however, producing a superb drive to work his way up through the field to be running fourth late on.
Lewis Hamilton reveals inspiration behind Spanish Grand Prix comeback
What does ‘interval’ mean in F1?
Monday 23 May 2022 09:49 , Michael Jones
Formula One has enticed a raft of new fans in recent times for a variety of reasons. Most notably the Netflix series Drive to Survive has brought the storylines in the pitlane to a new audience and got them hooked.
Meanwhile on the track, the 2021 battle between Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ignited more sporting interest after years of Mercedes’ domination.
However the sport remains impenetrable at the best of times, with TV commentators and analysts using racing terminology and F1 jargon which make races difficult to understand for the casual fan.
One of those terms is ‘interval’ which you often see on the live leaderboard during a race, and occasionally here mentioned by the commentary team.
What does ‘interval’ mean in F1?
Verstappen addresses DRS problems
Monday 23 May 2022 09:40 , Michael Jones
A problem with his DRS system was a worrying thought for Max Verstappen who says it wasn’t easy to drive and diagnose the malfunction at the same time as moving up through the field to fight for first place.
“I mean, I could have shouted [something] back on the radio, but there is nothing you can do.” he said, “I’m not stupid; once you get the light and the activation beep then you press the… paddle and if it doesn’t open, there’s clearly an issue.
“I spammed it like 50 times at one point on the straight and it’s just not opening, so there was clearly an issue. I tried all different kinds of things: stay off the kerb, on the kerb, open it a tiny bit later. It was just broken or malfunctioning so yes, we clearly have an issue there on this wing.”
Verstappen enjoyed ‘tough battle’ with Russell
Monday 23 May 2022 09:35 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen earned his third win of the season as part of a one-two finish for Red Bull in the Spanish Grand Prix and broke down his race after the chequered flag touching on his DRS issues and how he was left frustrated trying to get past Mercedes’ George Russell.
“A bit of a race with two halves,” said Verstappen, “because the first 30 laps were very frustrating for me after I went off in Turn 4, first of all, which really caught me by surprise because I didn’t feel like I was actually braking later or throwing more speed into the corner. But it was very gusty out there today… that caught me out by surprise, that was not ideal of course.
“Of course I was a bit frustrated at the time because I couldn’t get [Russell] because of DRS issues, but the fight itself was really cool also. I think that lap where I did go down the outside and George went around the outside and I was around the outside of Turn 3 again, I think that was a really cool fight.
“I look back at it and I’ll smile now; at the time of course I was a little bit frustrated. But it was a really good and tough battle, I think.”
What is DRS in Formula 1, what does it mean and how does it work?
Monday 23 May 2022 09:27 , Michael Jones
If you’ve become a fan of Formula 1 in recent years, you will probably be familiar with the term ‘DRS’ - the system which effectively allows for more overtaking.
Following its introduction in 2011, DRS has become a vital part of the sport. It stands for Drag Reduction System and is an adjustable part of the rear wing which, when opened, improves speed by 10-12 kmph.
That doesn’t sound like a lot when cars already travel at around 300kmph, but it can make all the difference along a long straight.
What is DRS in Formula 1, what does it mean and how does it work?
Christian Horner claims Max Verstappen could have overtaken Sergio Perez despite DRS issues
Monday 23 May 2022 09:19 , Michael Jones
Christian Horner has dismissed the potential for Sergio Perez to defend his lead at the Spanish Grand Prix, rather than concede to teammate Max Verstappen after team orders.
“DRS was working intermittently. So it worked one lap not the next,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.
“And I think from a team point of view, the offset was so great between the two of them. I mean, Max was at that stage, because the tyre delts are about two seconds a lap quicker. It just didn’t make sense to let them fight it out.
“I think we discuss it you know openly, I think he see the race plot,” said Horner of Perez. You see how, I think close to 30 laps to do on that medium tyre, which in the end we needed to pit to make sure we covered Russell’s so in the heat of the moment, you’re gonna understand he’s a racing driver. If he wasn’t pushing those things, he’s not doing his job.”
‘Like the olden days!’ Lewis Hamilton full of confidence after Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Monday 23 May 2022 09:11 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton says his brilliant comeback drive at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix has resurrected his dream of fighting for an eighth world championship.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen raced to his third victory in as many outings after Charles Leclerc was cruelly eliminated from the lead when engine gremlins struck his Ferrari on lap 27 of a sizzling race at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
Sergio Perez took second, one place ahead of Hamilton’s ever-impressive Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with Carlos Sainz fourth.
Lewis Hamilton full of confidence after Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Christian Horner defends Red Bull team orders in Spain
Monday 23 May 2022 09:03 , Jack Rathborn
Team principal Christian Horner has backed Red Bull’s team orders imposed on Sergio Perez at the Spanish Grand Prix.
With Max Verstappen sliding off into the gravel in Barcelona, the world champion was stuck behind George Russell and teammate Perez in P4.
But after Charles Leclerc retired, Perez led, only for the team to order him to make way for Verstappen, who went on to win and snatch the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
“I think the problem that we had we could see as I think other cars, we got temperatures raging, you know, water, oil, brakes,” Horner said on Sky Sports F1.
“And the last thing you want to risk is you know, DNF when you have got two cars that can potentially now one-two, and they were on different strategies, so it wasn’t a straight fight Max had such a tyre advantage.
“And of course Checo’s tyres wouldn’t have made it you know, we don’t think to the end. So that’s why you know, he pitted towards the end of the race to get that valuable, fastest lap as well.
“Our responsibility is to bring the cars home with as many points as we can. And of course, what Checo couldn’t see at the time, which I think he’d see perfectly well now, is that you had such a long stint to do on that medium tyre. Max had such a tyre advantage.
“From a team perspective, there’s just no point in taking, you know that risk with an intermittent DRS, with temperatures raging up and down. So it was absolutely the right thing to do.”
Max Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix to move top of standings after Charles Leclerc retirement
Monday 23 May 2022 08:57 , Jack Rathborn
Max Verstappen leads the F1 world championship after romping to victory at a thrilling Spanish Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver took advantage of Charles Leclerc’s mechanical failure on lap 27 of 66 before performing out of his skin to deliver his third win in as many races.
Sergio Perez completed a one-two finish for Red Bull, as George Russell secured third, following another fine performance from the young Briton, with Carlos Sainz fourth.
Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix to move top of standings after Leclerc retirement
Lewis Hamilton reveals inspiration for Spanish Grand Prix comeback
Monday 23 May 2022 08:47 , Jack Rathborn
Lewis Hamilton has revealed how a terminally ill five-year-old fan inspired him to pull off a stunning Spanish Grand Prix comeback.
Hamilton said when asked if he took more satisfaction scrapping for fourth and fifth: “One-hundred per cent!
“A race like that is like a win and feels better, most often, than a win when you have come from so far back. Ultimately, there was a lot of adversity coming from so far back.
“There was a young girl that I spoke to [on Saturday] who was my inspiration. Isla, a five-year-old that is terminally ill and she said ‘Will you win the race for me’.
“I said I don’t know if we will win but I will give it everything. So hopefully for me, that was a bit like a win and I would like to dedicate it to her.”
