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Formula 1
Spanish GP
F1 Spanish GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.
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Max Verstappen took pole position for Red Bull by beating Ferrari rival Carlos Sainz and McLaren's Lando Norris.
Verstappen will look to extend his 39-point lead in the standings over Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who missed out on a Q3 berth following an off in qualifying and will start 11th.
Also out of position is George Russell in 12th, after a struggles with porpoising on his Mercedes W14, and last year's polesitter Charles Leclerc who starts from the pitlane after being eliminated in Q1.
The race starts at 3pm BST.
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An odd moment in Hulkenberg's latest stop as a change of rear jack was quickly required. The German is now P18, ahead of only Magnussen and Norris.
Hamilton is now just 1.2s behind Sainz in the battle for a net second place. Stroll, with soft tyres, has Russell within DRS range and closing in fast behind.
Leclerc finally begins to make progress as he passes De Vries for P14. This has not been the afternoon he had hoped for, so far!
Verstappen calls time on his mediums and switches to hards after his 26th lap. He rejoins without losing the lead to Perez.
One lap after Hamilton, Russell comes in for his own set of mediums. We now have a Red Bull 1-2 with both yet to stop, followed by Sainz, Hamilton, Stroll and Russell.
Verstappen, Russell and Perez are now the only drivers who have yet to pit. It's impressive how Russell has kept his softs alive when Leclerc has already ditched a set of hards.
Lap 25 and Hamilton is called to pit. He takes on mediums and rejoins fifth, behind Sainz.
Norris stops again. After stopping early for damage and fitting the hard tyres, he has now bolted on the medium compound rubber. He wins Pirelli bingo for the day!
Verstappen is picking up the pace and posts a new personal best of 1m19.869s, looking comfortable some 10s up the road from Hamilton.
Stopwatch
Gasly re-takes Leclerc and immediately sets a new fastest lap with a 1:19.437s. Of course, lapping in P15, he would not receive the point for this should he retain the accolade for the duration.
Sainz is still first of those who have stopped in fifth, 30s down on Verstappen. He's 9s ahead of Stroll, who had been ahead of Russell prior to his stop.
Perez set his best lap of the race so far last time around. He's fourth on the mediums, 24.9s behind team-mate Verstappen who is on the same strategy.
Following his stop Gasly is quickly rounded up by Leclerc for P16. It should be noted, the Ferrari driver is currently on soft tyres while Gasly is on mediums.
Pit stop
In on lap 20 comes Alonso from fifth, to be fitted with a second set of soft tyres. He'll have to take the medium or hards later on.
Zhou's early stop is currently paying dividends with the Alfa Romeo driver now up to P9.
Piastri moves past De Vries for P14, using DRS to make his pass into Turn 1.
As Sainz zaps Gasly for sixth into Turn 1, Russell tells his team that "there's a lot more pace in these tyres, we need to look forwards, not backwards". Mercedes are looking to go on the front foot rather than covering the likes of Stroll and Ocon who have already pitted.
Gasly has moved up to sixth by dint of not stopping but has Sainz right on his tail with a fresh set of mediums.
Piastri joins the list of stoppers at the end of lap 18, fitting hard tyres and joining the battle for P13 between De Vries and Magnussen.
With the more durable medium rubber Perez has moved up to 1.7s behind Alonso, who currently sits fourth. He's showing no signs of following team-mate Stroll into the pits just yet though.
Immediately after, Leclerc is pulled into the pits - at the end of lap 16. He fits a new set of soft tyres and falls back to P18.
"Tyres are still really good mate," Hamilton tells engineer Pete Bonnington. He's now been released by Sainz's stop and is running in clear air, albeit 8s behind leader Verstappen.
After Sainz's stop, Leclerc pulls to one side to allow Sainz through into P8.
The battle between Zhou and Hulkenberg continues, as the Alfa Romeo driver once again passes the Haas into Turn 1. This DRS fight is one that keeps delivering!
Pit stop
Sainz now comes in on lap 16, and takes on a set of medium tyres. "Why, okay," is his questioning response.
Yes is the answer as Stroll comes in to cover Ocon and switches onto hard tyres.
Ocon's stop means those around him in the top six will be watching his pace closely, with the desire not to be undercut. Could we see more stops soon among the front runners?
After avoiding contact through Turns 1-2, Ocon quickly pulls clear and begins to make use of his fresh medium tyres.
As Ocon leaves the pits, he rejoins just ahead of the battle for P14 between Hulkenberg, Zhou and Tsunoda.
Sainz is asked to pick up the pace by Ferrari, but tells them to "be patient". Verstappen has eked his advantage out to 6.4s, as Ocon pits from sixth.
Stroll has slipped 4s back from Hamilton, and was 0.8s slower last time by. Will Russell be able to pounce soon?
Verstappen has lessened his pace slightly out front, having ducked under the 1m20s barrier a few laps ago. He's currently doing mid 1m20s, which suggests he's saving his tyres and content to keep the gap as it is to Sainz, knowing Sainz's tyres will give up the ghost sooner.
Yet to stop, Leclerc is now in P11. He is currently 1.8s behind Gasly.
Russell takes fifth starting lap 11 with a late lunge inside Ocon at Turn 1. Ocon thought he had that covered, but the closing speed of the Merc was truly impressive there.
Continuing to recover from a dreadful start, Gasly passes Magnussen around the outside of Turn 1 for P10.
At the end of Lap 9, the midfield begin in earnest to pit to switch off the soft compound tyres. Zhou and Hulkenberg have both made the switch to hards.
Good news then for Mercedes, and Russell now has Ocon firmly within DRS range.
No further investigation is deemed necessary by the stewards for Russell leaving the track and gaining an advantage on the opening lap.
Far from looking forward, Alonso is now being forced to look in his mirrors after Perez passes Zhou for P8 and begins to swarm all over the gearbox of the Aston Martin.
Verstappen's lead was 3.7s over Sainz last time by, and continuing to grow. On lap 8 he was a full second quicker with the fastest lap of the race so far, a 1m19.894s.
By: Autosport Staff
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