Verstappen grabs victory at chaotic Spanish GP, Leclerc DNF
Red Bull's Max Verstappen took the checkered flag at a wild Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez finished second, while Mercedes' George Russell took third.
The result moves Verstappen and Red Bull to the top of the drivers' and constructors' championship standings, respectively.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc appeared to be cruising to victory, but he lost power on Lap 27 and was forced to retire from the race.
LECLERC IS OUT!
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 22, 2022
A certain win turns into a nightmare for the championship leader as Russell takes the lead.
A stunning turn of events.#SpanishGP | #F1 pic.twitter.com/WEyCZYzou2
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Haas' Kevin Magnussen collided on the first lap, causing both drivers to drop to the back of the grid. Hamilton battled his way back to finish in fifth, while Magnussen came in 17th.
Here's how the top of the drivers' standings looks after the race:
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 110 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 104 |
| 3 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 85 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 74 |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 65 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 46 |
Despite some struggles with DRS and an uneven beginning to the race, Verstappen was satisfied with the end result.
"My DRS not working made it tough. A difficult beginning but a good end," Verstappen said. "I'm very happy to win and also very happy for Checo (Perez). A great result for the team."
The F1 season continues next Sunday with the Monaco Grand Prix.