The 2024 Spanish Grand Prix: High Speeds, Low Excitement

The 2024 Spanish Grand Prix delivered a mild snoozefest, with intense battles in the first 5 seconds, the Ferraris fighting…. again, and zero safety cars.

Driver Breakdowns

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen once again demonstrated why he is a formidable force in Formula 1. Leading from 2nd to finishing 1st, Verstappen's dominant performance was a masterclass in precision and strategy. Despite a strong challenge from Lando Norris, and a small interlude with George Russell, Verstappen managed to hold his position and secure victory. "It was a perfect race for us," Verstappen said. His team's strategy was spot on, allowing him to maintain a comfortable lead throughout the race.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a Max victory, I just expected a better battle between him and Lando. (I think McLaren did too.) Part of the thrill of Formula One is the racing battles and this Grand Prix did not deliver on interesting racing battles.

Carlos Sainz

What a sad day for the Spanish native. Carlos fought hard to stand on the podium. But he spent his time fighting his teammate. Although Carlos finished in the points, he spent a lot of energy after the race expressing his disappointment with Charles Leclerc, stating that he ‘complains too much’. Shots fired.

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton's race was a showcase of resilience and strategic brilliance. After a challenging start, Hamilton managed to claw his way back to the top positions. "We fought hard and made the best out of a difficult situation," Hamilton commented. His recovery drive was one of the highlights of the race and he finished on the podium for the first time in 2024, an unlikely feat for the phenom.

Seeing Lewis back on the podium was a sight for sore eyes.

Lando Norris

Lando, Lando, Lando. Poor boy. He was so distracted by fending off Max and he didn’t see the threat from George Russell in the first few seconds and immediately lost his hard-won pole position. Lando Norris continued with a solid performance despite the dismal start of the race. His consistency and racecraft earned him valuable points, and his challenge to Verstappen showcased his potential. "It was a tough race, but we managed to get the job done," Norris said. McLaren's strategic decisions played a crucial role in his strong finish.

I’m continuing to hold out hope for Lando.

Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc faced a challenging race with car performance issues and strategic missteps. Despite his efforts, he couldn't deliver the expected results. "It's frustrating, but we’ll keep pushing," Leclerc admitted. After another disappointing outcome, Ferrari slips even further behind Red Bull in the battle for the Constructors. He also proved he wasn’t an ideal team player by refusing to support Carlos at his home race.

George Russell

After a truly shocking LeRoy Jenkins moment in the first few seconds of the race, George took the lead ahead of Max and Lando. George ultimately finished 4th, ahead of Leclerc. Mercedes have been on a great climb in the last few races. George Russell is out to make a statement the last few races, showing that he can take on the mantle of powerhouse of Mercedes.

Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez struggled with missed opportunities and race challenges. His performance didn't reflect his potential. It leaves everyone wondering what is going on with Red Bull’s second son.

Team Comments

Red Bull Racing

Red Bull celebrated Verstappen's win while acknowledging Perez's struggles. "Max was exceptional today, and we’ll work on supporting Sergio better," Christian Horner stated. Their focus remains on maintaining their championship lead while getting Checo in a better position.

Mercedes

Mercedes praised Hamilton's strong finish and addressed Russell's difficulties. "It was also fantastic to pull off two of the best overtakes I’ve seen in a long time. George made a mega start and braked late to take the lead. Lewis’s overtake on Sainz meanwhile was great racing and an important moment for his race. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to enjoy a Grand Prix podium with Lewis, so it was fantastic to see him up there,” said Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz.

McLaren

McLaren celebrated Norris's second place podium, although it wasn’t the win they were hoping for. "When you start from pole position gained on merit, it’s always a little disappointing not being able to convert it into a race win, but actually, the race today was decided by some details, in particular the fact that we couldn’t keep the first position at the first corner,” explained Andrea Stella, Team Principal.

Key Takeaways from the Race

While hailed ahead of time as a race that could hold another Lando podium. After a few exciting early seconds, it was no longer competitive in the ways that we desire.