Piastri triumphs in Spain with McLaren one-two
McLaren's Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo. PHOTO: AFP
Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two on Sunday to forge 10 points clear of teammate Lando Norris in the title battle.
The Australian's win, by 2.4 seconds, was his fifth in nine races this season and McLaren's seventh.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc completed the podium after passing Max Verstappen's Red Bull six laps from the end following a safety car period that triggered the main talking point of the afternoon with the champion demoted from fifth to 10th.
"It's a nice way to bounce back from Monaco. A superb weekend," said Piastri, who finished third last weekend in a race won from pole by Norris. Verstappen, who made four stops in total and ended up on the slower hard tyres against rivals on softs, collided with Leclerc and twice with Mercedes' George Russell after the safety car restart.
The angry Dutch driver was given a 10-second penalty added to his overall time for the second Russell collision that was clearly his fault.
He and Leclerc also faced a post-race investigation for their clash that could lead to further sanctions.
"I tried to push him to the left, there was a bit of contact but fortunately no consequences," said Leclerc. Verstappen claimed the Monegasque had rammed into him and should have given back the place.
Russell finished fourth after eventually being let through by Verstappen, who reluctantly did as his team told him.
Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg finished a surprising and morale-boosting fifth for the future Audi team after passing Ferrari's seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton on the penultimate lap.
Hamilton was a disappointing sixth, Isack Hadjar seventh for Racing Bulls and Pierre Gasly eighth for Renault-owned Alpine.
First points
Home hero Fernando Alonso scored his first points of the season with Aston Martin, who had only one car on the grid due to Lance Stroll's withdrawal through injury after Saturday's qualifying.
Piastri led away cleanly at the start with Verstappen seizing second from Norris while Hamilton and Leclerc moved up to fourth and fifth as Russell lost out.
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