Max Verstappen fends off Lando Norris to reign in Spain

Max Verstappen held off Lando Norris' late charge to win the Spanish Grand Prix and extend his championship lead.

Norris started from pole position, but dropped to third after he was outfoxed by Verstappen and George Russell at the opening bend in Barcelona.

But McLaren's Norris took on a different strategy to his rivals to afford himself a last-gasp surge for victory on fresher rubber.

However, the British driver ran out of steam in his pursuit of Verstappen, with the Dutchman claiming his third win from the last four races to extend his title lead to 69 points.

Lewis Hamilton passed Mercedes team-mate Russell with 14 laps remaining to take the final spot on the podium. Russell, despite having led the opening two laps, finished fourth.

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc took fifth and sixth respectively for Ferrari.

Norris rued his getaway over the radio. "I should have won," he said. "I f***** up the start. Car was amazing. Deserved more."

Speaking after the chequered flag, Norris said: "I got a bad start. Simple as that. We were the quickest and I lost it at the beginning. A lot of positives this weekend and one negative ruined everything. I need to work it out for next time."

Norris delivered the lap of his life to secure only his second pole of his career but the 24-year-old was on the back foot from the get-go when he dropped two positions before the opening bend.

Norris aggressively moved to his right to cover off Verstappen on the long run down to the first corner, only for the Red Bull to sneak down the McLaren man's inside.

On the other side of the track, Russell, from fourth on the grid, blasted clear of a slow-starting Hamilton before moving into the tow of both Verstappen and Norris and then sling-shotting his Mercedes