Verstappen wins thrilling Spanish GP after Leclerc DNF

Max Verstappen capitalised on Charles Leclerc's costly engine failure to win a dramatic Spanish Grand Prix and take the championship lead.

In a helter-skelter Barcelona race packed with incidents from start to finish, Leclerc had held a comfortable advantage out in front before the pole-sitter suffered a race-ending Ferrari issue on Lap 28.

"No! No! No power!" cried Leclerc on team radio before being called back to the pits.

Verstappen still had a lot to do from there - having dropped down the order following an uncharacteristic early spin before frustration over DRS problems and battles with George Russell - but he overcame the challenges to eventually go on a characteristic charge after three pit-stops.

He finished ahead of Sergio Perez in another Red Bull one-two, although the Mexican was disgruntled having been asked by Red Bull to move aside when Verstappen came charging behind.

"We'll talk later," Perez, who finished with the fastest lap and had his name being chanted by fans on the podium, told his team afterwards.

The gripping Spanish GP also included an impressive podium for Russell in the Mercedes, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton produced an epic recovery drive to fifth following a collision and puncture on the opening lap.

He had run fourth before being re-overtaken by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz as Mercedes had reliability concerns over both cars in the closing stages, but the team will still be heartened by from a much-improved weekend.

Verstappen, meanwhile, has his first title lead of the season, with his 19-point deficit to Leclerc suddenly a six-point advantage.

On a potentially pivotal day in the 2022 championship, Red Bull, having taken maximum points from the weekend, have also leapfrogged Ferrari in the