MONTMELO: Max Verstappen reaped the reward of Charles Leclerc’s misfortune to rack up his third straight win this season in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix and move top of the Formula One drivers’ standings.
Sergio Perez took second for a Red Bull 1-2 at the Montmelo circuit behind the world champion where in 2016 Verstappen had opened his F1 account as a teenager.
Leclerc was sitting comfortably in the lead from pole until lap 23 when a sudden loss of power proved fatal to his Ferrari.
The man from Monaco arrived in Catalonia 19 points in front in the title race, but left it six points behind Verstappen ahead of his home race next weekend.
Verstappen had to overcome being blown off the circuit and into the gravel by a gust of wind early on and some technical niggles.
“Difficult beginning but a good end! I tried to stay focussed, which is not always easy,” he said.
Mercedes showed improved form after a bumpy start to the season with George Russell claiming third.
Lewis Hamilton in the other Mercedes threaded his way through the field after being forced into the pits shortly after the start with a puncture to take fifth.
Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix, takes world championship lead
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Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix, takes world championship lead
- Verstappen had to overcome being blown off the circuit and into the gravel by a gust of wind early on and some technical niggles
MESIF 2026 lands in Riyadh, driving future of sports investment
- Senior sports leaders to gather in capital as 2-day Middle East Sports Investment Forum focuses on performance, football, long-term sporting legacy
RIYADH: Riyadh will host the Middle East Sports Investment Forum on Jan. 27-28, bringing together senior decision-makers from across football, major events, infrastructure, media and investment as the region sharpens its focus on high-performance sport and long-term legacy.
The forum will examine how the Middle East’s rapidly expanding sports sector is shifting from headline events to sustainable systems, with discussions set to cover elite facilities, athlete pathways, commercial growth and fan engagement.
Confirmed speakers include Abdullah Al-Rasheed, director of investment enablement at the Saudi Ministry of Sport; Hani Ballan, CEO of the Qatar Stars League; Nader Nasser Hamood Al-Rawahy, operations excellence lead at Oman Vision 2040; Nasser Al‑Khori, executive director of the Generation Amazing Foundation; Haya Sawan, managing partner at Motion Academy; and Marwan Albazie, deputy CEO of the Islamic Solidarity Games Local Organizing Committee.
These leaders bring expertise in government policy, league development, social impact, and investment strategy, offering insights into both the commercial and societal potential of sport across the Middle East.
Football is expected to feature prominently, with a dedicated session on the future of the game in the region exploring performance, engagement and commercial strategy as Saudi Arabia continues to build its global sporting profile.
Infrastructure and major events will also be in focus, as industry leaders assess how world-class venues and international competitions can drive economic impact while supporting athlete development and community participation.
The forum concludes with a tour of Kingdom Arena, underlining Riyadh’s ambition to position its venues as year-round performance hubs rather than event-only destinations.
