© Getty Images

Spanish Grand Prix Race ReportA late Safety Car and a time penalty meant Max finished in 10th place at the flag of the Spain Grand Prix. Yuki Tsunoda crossed the line in 13th after a pit lane start.

Withalittleover10lapsleftattheCircuitdeBarcelona-Catalunya,MaxlookedoncourseforthirdplaceorbetterashesatjusthalfasecondbehindMcLaren’sLandoNorrisandraceleaderOscarPiastri.

But the race was suddenly neutralised when Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli went off track at Turn 10 and the safety car was released. The caution sparked a rush to the pit lane and Max was fitted with a new set of hard tyres, which was the only fresh set available, while the others bolted on used soft tyres.

That left the Champion vulnerable at the restart. When the safety car left the track Oscar and Lando pulled away, but Max, struggling for grip, was immediately put under pressure by Charles and he overtook Max on the pit straight.

A late race clash with George Russell coped Max a 10 second penalty which, given the bunched-up field, finally dropped him down to a P10 finish.

At lights out, Oscar reacted fastest, and he took off cleanly into the lead. The Australian’s team-mate Lando was slow off the line from the other side of the front row and Max immediately pounced. They were side-by-side on entry to turn one but Max passed the McLaren around the outside to grab second place.

Max was complaining that he had “no grip” compared to the McLarens© Getty Images

Yuki, meanwhile, started from the pit lane on medium tyres and over the opening laps the Japanese driver caught up to Franco Colapinto and began to put pressure on the Alpine driver. On lap nine the Japanese driver headed into the pit lane for an early stop and after swapping his starting tyres for a set of softs he rejoined at the back of the field. He was soon past Williams’ Alex Albon and on his way through the backmarkers.

At the front, Max was complaining that he had “no grip” compared to the McLarens and the Champion didn’t resist when Lando closed up at the start of lap 13 and passed under DRS.

The Team took the opportunity to pit the Champion on lap 14 and with a set of new softs on board he rejoined behind Isack but quickly passed the Frenchman to claim P7. He was soon on the charge and after passing Kimi he chased down George who headed for the pit lane. With a stop under his belt, the Champion was back up to third, just 14.5s behind Lando.

And when the Briton made his first stop on lap 22 for medium tyres, Max roared past Lando to ease back into second place. Oscar made his first stop on the following lap and the Dutchman took the lead for the first time, almost six seconds ahead of the Australian.

However, with the McLarens on fresh medium tyres, and with Max on rapidly fading softs the gap soon began to reduce.

Yuki, meanwhile, made his second stop on lap 25, taking on soft tyres, and once again he rejoined in last place. With his slender lead evaporating and his tyres giving him difficulty, Max made his second stop on lap 30, taking on medium tyres. He emerged in fourth place, behind Charles and just metres ahead of Lewis.

With new tyres on board, the Dutchman began to pump in fastest laps, but the Champion was not happy with his car, suggesting that just in Monaco he was struggling with his gear shifts.

Despite the issue, Max’s pace kept building and on lap 36 he swept past Charles under DRS in Turn 1. Lando was swiftly informed that the Champion was now back in the race and that if he wanted to keep Max five seconds or more behind, he’d have to up his own pace.

Charles was the first of the front and after Lewis also stopped Max made his third stop on lap 48 for used soft tyres and that prompted McLaren to pit both its drivers in quick succession to avoid the undercut.

Max got closer and set about reeling in Lando and he closed to within half a second. However, as they weaved through traffic, the Briton was able to break DRS and Max began to slip back.

On lap 54, however, the gap was erased when Mercedes’ Kimi suffered an engine failure and went deep into the gravel trap at Turn 10. The safety car was deployed, and a slew of cars immediately arrowed into the pit.

The order slowly shook out and after a slow march behind the SC as lapped cars joined up with the back of the train, the race at last burst into action again on lap 60. Unfortunately for Max, the result was a drop to the edge of points. Whilst Yuki ended the Spain Grand Prix in 13th place.