How Max Verstappen won the 2023 F1 Spanish Grand Prix

Follow all of the action from the Spanish Grand Prix here with the Crash.net live blog.

04 Jun 2023
14:41
Perez pits

Perez comes in for a set of hards. He rejoins in ninth.

The Mercs are also on the move - Hamilton overtakes Sainz; Russell past Stroll.

14:40
Russell radio

"Rain at Turn 5."

14:38
Verstappen is the next to pit

A tidy, 2.2s pit stop from Red Bull. He rejoins in the lead.

14:38
Russell stops on the next lap

It's also mediums for Russell. He rejoins just ahead of Ocon in sixth.

14:36
Hamilton pits on Lap 25

New mediums for the Mercedes driver - he rejoins in fifth behind Sainz.

14:33
Order on Lap 23

Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell, Perez, Sainz, Stroll, Ocon, Tsunoda, Alonso, Zhou, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, de Vries, Gasly, Leclerc, Bottas, Norris, Albon and Sargeant. 

14:31
Russell radio

"You dont think one-stop is possible? Tyres holding well at the moment."

14:30
Alonso pits on Lap 20

Like teammate Stroll, he opts for another set of softs. He rejoins in 10th behind Zhou.

14:28
Russell radio

"A lot more pace in these tyres. Need to look forward, not behind." 

14:27
Lap 1 shots

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB19 leads at the start of the race. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 8, Spanish
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB19 leads at the start of the race…

14:25
Great pace from Hamilton

He sets his best lap of the race as he reduces Verstappen's lead to 7.9s.

14:23
Early pit stops

Aston Martin call Stroll in for some new soft tyres. He rejoins in 12th. 

14:22
Hamilton in DRS range of Sainz

He's 0.8s behind Sainz in the battle for second.

14:21
Leclerc radio

"I have zero grip with these tyres."

14:18
14:17
Lap 11/66

Verstappen's lead over Sainz is up to 5.3s.

Hamilton is running 1.6s behind the Ferrari.

14:15
Perez into eighth now

Perez goes around the outside of Zhou to move into eighth. 

14:13
Hamilton on the move

He's up to third past Stroll into Turn 1 now.

14:12
Russell past Alonso

Russell makes the most of DRS to get by Alonso into Turn 1 - the Mercedes driver is up to sixth now.

14:11
Perez up to ninth

The Mexican is looking to recover from his lowly grid position - he's now ninth behind Zhou.

14:10
Order on Lap 5

Verstappen, Sainz, Stroll, Hamilton, Ocon, Alonso, Russell, Zhou, Hulkenberg, Perez, Tsunoda, Piastri, Magnussen, Gasly, de Vries, Albon, Bottas, Leclerc, Sargeant and Norris.

14:08
Lap 1 contact
14:05
Order on Lap 2

Verstappen, Sainz, Stroll, Hamilton, Ocon, Alonso, Russell, Hulkenberg, Zhou, Perez, Piastri.

14:05
Verstappen leads into Turn 1

Verstappen keeps the lead into Turn 1 ahead of Sainz.

Stroll gets past Hamilton after the two British drivers collide. 

Norris will have to make a pit stop.

14:03
Lights out in Barcelona

The 2023 Spanish Grand Prix is underway!

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