The form of the Mercedes drivers, with a re-designed car after a disappointing start to the season, provided a main talking point. McLaren's Lando Norris, who started third on the grid, suffered a broken front wing on the first lap after contact with Hamilton and had to pit, plunging down the order and finishing 17th. Very well controlled, even though you went over the white lines a few times," said team boss Christian Horner. Verstappen was also shown a black and white flag for exceeding track limits late in the race but the risk of a five second penalty was hardly going to trouble someone so far up the road from the rest. Going around the outside at Turn One is always quite difficult but luckily nothing happened." "I had the harder compound so I knew the start would be a bit tricky. I think it showed again today," said Verstappen, who fended off Ferrari's home hero Carlos Sainz at the start in the only challenge of an otherwise straightforward afternoon. "It's a big pleasure to drive with a car like this. The man who took the first grand prix win of his career at the Spanish circuit in 2016 and also triumphed last year, secured the bonus point for fastest lap to cap a day of domination. The victory was Verstappen's fifth of the season, third in a row, third in Spain and the double world champion's 40th in Formula One.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez, Verstappen's closest rival in a season that looks sure to crown the dominant Dutch 25-year-old for a third time, finished fourth after fighting back from 11th at the start. Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton was second for Mercedes, but 24.09 seconds behind, with team mate George Russell completing the podium on a cloudy but dry afternoon at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.
(Reuters) - Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday to stretch his Formula One lead to 53 points and continue Red Bull's sweep of the season with the team's seventh success in as many races.
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