2022 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Spain: Max Verstappen wins, and is back in the driver's seat for the title

Troubles for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari at Barcelona lead to another 1-2 finish for Red Bull

For all the talk of Max Verstappen and Red Bull's issues with the Drag Reduction System during qualifying, and whether it would cause a problem during the race, it was the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc that suffered an issue, knocking him out of the Grand Prix of Spain and handing Red Bull a 1-2 finish at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Verstappen at the top of the podium for the fourth time this season.

Leclerc was racing by himself for most of the race and in total control when he suddenly screamed "no-no-no" into his radio.

"What happened?" his crew asked.

"No power," he replied. 

The DNF was the second on the season for Leclerc, and combined with Verstappen's win, dropped him out of the top spot of the championship table for the first time this season, and lifted the defending series champion Verstappen to the No. 1 spot and Red Bull into the lead for the Constructor's Cup.

That doesn't mean it was all easy sailing for the Flying Dutchman, as the DRS was indeed an issue for him, either through a mechanical issue or from him constantly mashing on the button, asking it to work. It kept him locked behind George Russell for the opening third of the race until Red Bull used strategy and pit stops to accomplish what they couldn't on the track.

Putting Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez on different strategies forced Mercedes to decide which one they should cover, and in the end Russell would settle for third place. Teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was ready to park the car after an opening lap issue with Kevin Magnussen dropped him down the field, ended up in fifth after being convinced to stay out and give it a go.

"The DRS was not always working, but we made it work," Verstappen said at the finish. "We managed it through strategy. I tried to stay focused. I'm happy with the win and happy for [Perez]. At the end we managed to get it."

Perez radioed his crew that he wasn't happy being asked to pull over to let Verstappen go through, but he couldn't argue with the team result, even if he said he would "talk about things" with the team afterward.

Leclerc was philosophical in the end, preferring to view the positives rather than the negatives.

"I don't know what happened," he said.  "There were no indications. It just broke.

"But there are plenty of positives from this weekend. Qualifying pace. Race pace. Time management, which has been a big issue for us. We have confidence for the rest of the season."

He will carry that confidence, and perhaps a few lingering doubts, to the Grand Prix of Monaco, his home race, on May 29.

Final running order

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
2. Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
3. George Russell, Mercedes
4. Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
5. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
7. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
8. Lando Norris, McLaren
9. Fernando Alonso, Alpine
10. Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
11. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
12. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
13. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
14. Mick Schumacher, Haas
15. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
16. Nicholas Latifi, Williams
17. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
18. Alexander Albon, Williams
19. Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
20. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

What we learned

On the back foot

Ferrari: This was Leclerc's race to lose. He was clearly the fastest in the field and despite him saying he will hold on to the good things that happened in the race and not the bad, it still must leave him with a bitter feeling. Carlos Sainz Jr. once again just seems to find himself in bad situations. He also had a fast car, as after spinning he dropped down to 11th, but through race strategy he made it to fourth, capturing valuable manufacturer's points for the team.

Haas: They were the only team that did not bring any bodywork or changes to the car after Miami, and it showed. Monaco will likely see a bit of a return to form as it is a handling track, but it's clear they will need some wind tunnel work done to catch the middle of the pack, at least.

Best foot forward

Mercedes: The team's best outing, by far, and it let everyone in the paddock know that they will not simply go quietly into the night. Russell and Verstappen's tussle in the opening third of the race was fantastic and gave proof that the young British driver can turn wheels with the best in the series and come out ahead. Hamilton's fifth-place finish is a testament to grinding it out and not giving up.

Red Bull Racing: Another 1-2 punch in the title chase delivered by Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Perhaps there are worries in that garage about Perez being disgruntled about being told to let Verstappen pass during the race, but as team principal Christian Horner said afterward, what driver wouldn't be upset to be told to allow another to pass? If there is an issue, it is with Perez and the team, not Verstappen, as the two seem to get along just fine.

[May 22, 2022 at 10:48 am ET · Richard Biebrich Jr.]

That's it for the Grand Prix of Spain, with Verstappen and Perez landing another 1-2 for Red Bull.

The unofficial Top 10

1. Max Verstappen
2. Sergio Perez
3. George Russell
4. Carlos Sainz Jr.
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Valtteri Bottas
7. Esteban Ocon
8. Lando Norris
9. Fernando Alonso
10. Yuki Tsunoda