Track Torque: Max wins Battle of Barcelona

Max Verstappen easily won the battle of the giants in Barcelona on Sunday. The Spanish crowd were dearly hoping that their two countrymen, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz would do well on their home track but it just could not happen that way.

After a very good start by Sainz, Verstappen quickly closed the door and streaked off into the distance. The Flying Dutchman was in a class of his own.

Unfortunately Sainz could not hold onto his second spot and both second and third was taken by the much improved Mercedes team of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

It is good to see this comeback from the three-pointed stars, we look forward to some closer racing in future.

After the podium trio came Sergio Perez, who had driven from the back end of the grid to his fourth place finish.

The two Red Bulls are still on another planet, but after Perez exposed the bottom of his car following his accident in practice, where the car was lifted by a crane high into the air, it let everyone see the secrets of his ground effects underbody’s aerodynamics design.

This was a very important moment and could allow the opposition to copy the secrets of Red Bull’s success.

Next up the road in fifth was Sainz in his scarlet Ferrari, which was 10 seconds behind Perez.

Snarling behind, just a second apart in sixth and seventh positions, were the two Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, both giving it their very best shot in Spain.

Stroll had gone very well in qualifying while Alonso had problems in practice, which pushed him down the grid.

Esteban Ocon and teammate Pierre Gasly gave us another display of the Alpine Renault’s potential, finishing eighth and tenth positions respectively.

Sandwiched between the Alpines, just seconds apart, were Zhou Guanyu in the Alfa Romeo Ferrari, while Perez after a very unlucky weekend was only 11th in his Ferrari.

Next race is across the Atlantic in Canada in two weeks’ time. Local entrepreneur Geoff Evans will be there to represent us. Please phone us from the track, Geoff.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Fever’s Facebook page