Max Verstappen cruised to his fifth win of the season with another stylish victory for his rampant Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, as Mercedes showed positive signs for the remainder of the year.
Starting in the 24th pole of his career, the flying Dutchman fended off a brief challenge from home hope Carlos Sainz off the line and from that moment on was utterly untroubled apart from the threat of rain overhead that never materialised.
Ad As his one-man procession to the chequered flag gathered pace, he was also given three warnings and a black and white flag for exceeding track limits in the closing stages.
Spanish Grand PrixVerstappen takes pole, Hamilton fifth after collision with Russell at Spanish GPYESTERDAY AT 16:12 It mattered little as he nursed home his lead over the final six laps without incurring a five-second time penalty to finish over 23 seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes which also included a bonus point for the fastest lap of the race.