Spanish Grand Prix: Max Verstappen Back On Top After Sizzling Red Bull One-Two

World champion Max Verstappen overcame a sequence of problems to lead his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez home and claim the lead in this year's title race on a bad day for Ferrari in Sunday's sizzling Spanish Grand Prix. His victory in a crushing Red Bull one-two was the 24th of his career and third in succession this season as he came home ahead of his Mexican partner with George Russell confirming Mercedes' revival by finishing third. Charles Leclerc, who had led the championship and dominated practice, set off convincingly from pole position until he was forced to retire his Ferrari with an engine failure.

Beaten at the start, Verstappen was blown off the circuit and had technical problems, but he overcame them to produce a furious drive aided by his team-mate's generosity for his second win at the Circuit de Catalunya, where he claimed his maiden victory as a teenager in 2016.

Carlos Sainz came home fourth in the second Ferrari ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who produced an inspired drive in the second Mercedes after an opening lap collision, and Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo.

Hamilton had to slow in the closing laps due to overheating problems, allowing home favourite Sainz to re-pass him to the delight of his home crowd.

Esteban Ocon was seventh for Alpine, ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren, two-time champion Fernando Alonso in the second Alpine and Yuki Tsunoda in his Alpha Tauri.

"At first I went off, as I had a lot of tail-wind," said Verstappen.

"Then, I was in the train and tried to pass, but my DRS was not always working. But, we did our own race and eventually we won."

Perez was satisfied, if also frustrated. "I'm happy for my first podium in Spain. It was close and I'm happy for the team, but