F1 results: Max Verstappen drives away from everyone for easy Spanish GP win over Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and George Russell
The F1 circus invades Barcelona this weekend
Spanish Grand Prix results
Max Verstappen (1), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
Lewis Hamilton (44), Mercedes
George Russell (63), Mercedes
Sergio Perez (11), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
Carlos Sainz (55), Ferrari
Lance Stroll (18), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Fernando Alonso (14), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Esteban Ocon (31), Alpine-Renault
Yuki Tsunoda (22), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Zhou Guanyu (24), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Pierre Gasly (10), Alpine-Renault
Charles Leclerc (16), Ferrari
Oscar Piastri (81), McLaren-Mercedes
Nyck De Vries (21), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Nico Hulkenberg, (27), Haas-Ferrari
Alexander Albon (23), Williams-Mercedes
Kevin Magnussen (20), Haas-Ferrari
Lando Norris (4), McLaren-Mercedes
Valtteri Bottas (77), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Logan Sargeant (2), Williams-Mercedes
2023 Spanish Grand Prix TV/streaming schedule
All times Eastern
Sunday
7:30-8:55 a.m.: Pre-race show (ESPN, ESPN app)
8:55-11 a.m.: Spanish Grand Prix (ESPN, ESPN app, F1TV)
Spanish Grand Prix starting grid
Max Verstappen (1), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
Carlos Sainz (55), Ferrari
Lando Norris (4), McLaren-Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (44), Mercedes
Lance Stroll (18), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Esteban Ocon (31), Alpine-Renault
Nico Hulkenberg, (27), Haas-Ferrari
Fernando Alonso (14), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Oscar Piastri (81), McLaren-Mercedes
Pierre Gasly (10), Alpine-Renault
Sergio Perez (11), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
George Russell (63), Mercedes
Zhou Guanyu (24), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Nyck De Vries (21), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Yuki Tsunoda (22), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Valtteri Bottas (77), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Kevin Magnussen (20), Haas-Ferrari
Alexander Albon (23), Williams-Mercedes
Charles Leclerc (16), Ferrari
Logan Sargeant (2), Williams-Mercedes
Gasly gets two grid penalties
Following Saturday's qualifying sessions, stewards issued two separate three-place grid drops to Alpine's Pierre Gasly — who had posted the fourth-fastest time in Q3 — for impeding. In Q1's first flying run, Gasly appeared to let Red Bull's Max Verstappen through, but did not move out of the way for Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez, who had to lift out of the throttle. Later in the session while not on a flying lap he was judged not to have sufficiently out of the way for Verstappen.
Gasly will now start the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix from 10th on the grid.
Perez, Russell out Q2
Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Mercedes' George Russell were surprisingly eliminated in Q2, along with Zhou Guanyu, Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda. Perez went into the gravel early in his final flying lap, forcing him to abort and try again on now-dirty tires. Russell made contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton late in the session as well. Perez's teammate Max Verstappen was fastest in the session, clocking a 1:12.760.
Hamilton fastest in Q1, Leclerc eliminated
After a frustrating Friday in which Lewis Hamilton mused he might be out early in qualifying, the Mercedes driver turned the fastest lap in Q1 with a 1:12.937. Last year's pole-sitter Charles Leclerc complained about his rear tires throughout the session and was eliminated, along with Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant.
Verstappen fastest in Friday practice
Max Verstappen was fastest in both of Friday's practice sessions. His 1:14.606 lap in free practice 1 was 0.7.68 seconds faster than his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. Spain's own Fernando Alonso was second to Verstappen in free practice 2, turning a 1:14.077, behind the Dutchman's 1:13.907. Haas' Kevin Magnussen surprised many in the paddock, placing third in FP 2 with a lap of 1:14.177.
2023 Spanish Grand Prix details
Track: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Barcelona), 2.83-mile, 14-turn permanent road course
Length: 66 laps for 187 miles
Lap record: N/A (new configuration for 2023)
Tire compounds: C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), C3 (Soft)
Chicane removed for 2023
When Catalunya opened 32 years ago, it featured a 14-turn layout. In 2007, a chicane was introduced between what were Turns 13 and 14 with the intention of adding another overtaking opportunity. That chicane has been eliminated for this year going forward, mostly owing to the latest aero regulations and cars not being able to follow in dirty air.
Top drivers and best bets for the Spanish Grand Prix
Max Verstappen once again enters with a negative moneyline figure and only two other drivers — his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso — are better than 22-to-1 to win the race, according to BetMGM. Verstappen has won four of the six rounds of the world championship this season, including the only race on a permanent circuit like Catalunya, and holds a 39-point lead in the standings.
Best odds to win
Max Verstappen -250
Sergio Perez +350
Fernando Alonso +800
If you’re looking for bets outside of Verstappen or Red Bull, we wrote earlier in the week on some interesting props. We like Alonso’s odds to finish on the podium (-185) as well as Alpine’s Esteban Ocon to finish in the top 6.
Spanish Grand Prix entry list
Max Verstappen (1), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
Sergio Perez (11), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
Charles Leclerc (16), Ferrari
Carlos Sainz (55), Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton (44), Mercedes
George Russell (63), Mercedes
Pierre Gasly (10), Alpine-Renault
Esteban Ocon (31), Alpine-Renault
Lando Norris (4), McLaren-Mercedes
Oscar Piastri (81), McLaren-Mercedes
Zhou Guanyu (24), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Valtteri Bottas (77), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Fernando Alonso (14), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Lance Stroll (18), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Kevin Magnussen (20), Haas-Ferrari
Nico Hulkenberg, (27), Haas-Ferrari
Nyck De Vries (21), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Yuki Tsunoda (22), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Logan Sargeant (2), Williams-Mercedes
Alexander Albon (23), Williams-Mercedes
Weather for the Spanish Grand Prix
The forecast is pretty optimal for racing, with partially cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. While that’s good news for the teams in that they’ll have consistent aerodynamic conditions and predictable tire degradation all weekend, fewer variables typically mean dull racing.