Verstappen extends title lead with masterful Spanish win

Defending double world champion Max Verstappen extended his lead in this  year’s title race to 53points yesterday when he completed a hat-trick  by driving his Red Bull to a masterful victory in the Spanish Grand  Prix. 

The 25-year-old Dutchman led from lights to flag to come home 24  seconds ahead of revitalised seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and  George Russell, in their much-improved Mercedes’ cars.  It was Verstappen’s third consecutive win, his third in Spain, his  fifth in seven races this season and the 40th of his career, achieved  despite receiving three official warnings for exceeding track limits. 

 “It’s such a big pleasure to drive a car like this,” said Verstappen.   “And it showed again today. We were on different tyre strategies  out there today and mostly I was on the right one! And to win here is  incredible.” Hamilton’s second place provided him with his 11th podium  finish in Spain, where he has won six times. AFP