Max Verstappen won his seventh race of the 2024 Formula 1 season at the Spanish Grand Prix after fending off a challenge from Lando Norris.
It was the first proper sign that Red Bull’s advantage appeared to be slashed at a circuit known for being a car tester in F1, with Verstappen making the difference at crucial moments during the race.
Norris felt his start impacted his chances of winning from pole, but Verstappen’s opening laps gave him the advantage over McLaren. The Briton started on new soft tyres while Verstappen was on a scrubbed set, meaning his move on Norris at the first corner was critical.
Once Verstappen got past Russell he could control the pace up front, but McLaren hatched a plan to keep Norris in the running. They pitted later than the other leaders to have a tyre life advantage at the end of the race, which put Verstappen under pressure.
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Max Verstappen under pressure by Lando Norris
It was the second time Verstappen’s pace in the lead has been under threat from Norris after the pair had a thrilling duel for the win during the final laps of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
His consistency is something journalist Peter Windsor thinks is what gave the Dutchman the edge over McLaren and Norris when speaking on his latest YouTube Q&A.
“Look at the way Max drivers under pressure, it’s something we haven’t seen much of since he started winning championships. We’ve seen him in aggression, F1 combat, walking away with a victory, but we haven’t seen him too much under pressure,” said Windsor.
“In Barcelona he was under massive pressure from Lando and yet zero mistakes. His consistency through the sectors was within one tenth over a 10-lap period, very impressive.”
Driver and team effort
Verstappen’s consistency, McLaren’s inconsistency, and Red Bull’s well-oiled winning machine were all contributing factors to the outcome of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko praised two key members of the team’s backroom staff, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley and chief strategist Hannah Schmitz.
Wheatley is responsible for Red Bull’s blistering pit stops, with their crew getting close to an F1 world record during the Spanish GP with Verstappen’s first stop.
By contrast, McLaren is only the fourth-quickest team on the grid with pit stops. Former F1 strategist Bernie Collins believes the team must improve this area if it wants to continue to challenge Red Bull for wins.
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