Oscar Piastri extended his world championship lead over McLaren team-mate Lando Norris with a commanding victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen was handed a penalty for a controversial late-race clash with George Russell.
Piastri, who started from pole, led confidently from the opening lap and never looked troubled at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The win marks the Australian’s fifth in nine races this season, allowing him to pull 10 points clear of Norris in the drivers’ standings.
Norris, who lost out to Verstappen at the start, swiftly reclaimed second place but was unable to mount a serious challenge on Piastri, who remained composed and consistent throughout the race. With both McLaren drivers committed to a standard two-stop strategy, Red Bull opted for a more aggressive three-stop approach for Verstappen in an attempt to disrupt the frontrunners.
The gamble kept Verstappen in the mix for second place heading into the final stint, but the complexion of the race changed with 10 laps to go when a Safety Car was deployed following Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes beaching in the gravel. While the leaders all pitted for fresh tyres, Red Bull were left with only a set of new hard tyres for Verstappen, in contrast to rivals on used but quicker softs.
Verstappen struggled for grip at the restart, nearly spinning out of the final corner and immediately losing position to Charles Leclerc. Contact occurred as Leclerc passed him on the run to Turn One. Russell then made his move, diving down the inside of the Dutchman, who ran wide and rejoined ahead of the Mercedes.
Red Bull instructed Verstappen to yield the position, but just as he appeared to do so, the two cars collided when Russell attempted to pass around the outside. The stewards were quick to react, awarding Verstappen a 10-second time penalty for the incident, demoting him from fifth to tenth in the final classification.
Leclerc capitalised to take third for Ferrari, with Russell recovering to finish fourth. Nico Hulkenberg delivered a standout drive for Sauber, securing fifth place after a late move on Lewis Hamilton, who endured a difficult afternoon and could only manage sixth in the second Ferrari.
The result rounds off the European triple-header with Piastri firmly in control of the championship fight, as the paddock prepares for the next round of the season.