Spanish Grand Prix LIVE: F1 outcome, latest updates and standings as Max Verstappen wins from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell

Speaking after his third-place surface, Russell said: “Kudos to the team for giving me a really great car today. That was a fun race for us starting in P12 and coming all the way to P3. Hopefully a sign of things to come for us.

“We know we brought some more downforce to the car and are in a better window, so just happy to be on the podium.”

A fantastic day in Barcelona for the Mercedes drivers who take 2nd and 3rd.

Speaking to previous colleague Nico Rosberg, Hamilton said: “What a result for our team. We definitely didn’t expect to have the result we had today, so I just really want to take my hat off to my team and say a big thank you to everyone back at the factory for continuing to push and bring us a little bit closer to Red Bull.

“They are still a bit ahead, but we’ll keep chasing them down. This is an amazing result – George Russell did a great job as well.

“If we can get close by the end of the year, that would be awesome. If not, next year.”

“It’s a big pleasure to drive a car like this. I think it showed again today. We had quite a lot of different strategies out there. For most of the race we were on the right one but a win here, it’s incredible.

On the start against Sainz, he said: “I had the harder compound so I knew the start would be a bit tricky. Going around the outside at Turn One is always quite difficult but luckily nothing happened.

“We had another strong weekend and that’s what I like to see from myself and the team, so hopefully we can keep that up throughout the year.”

Having began 11th, Perez was not able to return up into the podium areas and the Mexican needs to choose 4th. Carlos Sainz began on the front row in front of his home crowd however comes home 5th in the end.

Stroll remains in 6th with home-nation preferred Alonso in seventh. Ocon, Zhou and Gasly complete the leading 10 after Tsunoda leaves following his time charge.

Here is how the leading 10 turn out in the end:

1. Max Verstappen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. George Russell
4. Sergio Perez
5. Carlos Sainz
6. Lance Stroll
7. Fernando Alonso
8. Esteban Ocon
9. Zhou Guanyu
10. Pierre Gasly

Hamilton conveniently enters into 2nd and Russell hangs on for 3rd! Neither were especially positive heading into the week here in Barcelona however maybe those car upgrades that they made prior to Monaco have actually already begun to come to fulfillment.

“Mega job guys, mega job,” Hamilton says over the radio.

“Thank you so much to everyone at the factory, continuing to push This is a real showing for all your hard work so thank you. Let’s keep pushing. Mega job to George as well.”

Russell began in 12th however he rose up the leaderboard early and held back the late charge from Perez.

Nobody has actually got near him today and Verstappen cruises over the goal for his 3rd triumph in a row. Commanding efficiency from the Red Bull driver who extends his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.

With Tsunoda’s charge, Leclerc and Gasly’s fight for 11th might be worth a point. Gasly hanging on as things stand in the last lap.

It is getting terribly close for Russell as he now leads by simply 3 seconds however Perez has simply 3 seconds to consume that staying time – will that suffice?

Top 10 presently: Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell, Perez, Sainz, Strol, Alonso, Ocon, Tsunoda, Zhou.

Officials have actually offered Tsunoa a five-second charge after that back-and-forth with Zhou. That would more than most likely drop him out of the points.