Spanish Grand Prix 2024 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Max Verstappen held off a charging Lando Norris to win a super-tight Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona-Catalunya, claiming his seventh victory of the season in what proved to be his final win for nearly three months. The race showcased the incredibly close battle developing between Red Bull and McLaren, with the gap between the two frontrunners shrinking to just over two seconds at the finish.

Norris started from pole position but lost the lead to Verstappen at the start, setting up an intense strategic battle. As the race progressed, Norris on fresher tires closed the gap dramatically, setting the fastest lap and mounting immense pressure on the reigning champion in the closing stages. However, Verstappen's racecraft and the RB20's defensive characteristics allowed him to hold on for victory by just 2.2 seconds. Lewis Hamilton secured his first podium of 2024 with third place for Mercedes, showing the Silver Arrows' resurgence.

The race marked a watershed moment in the championship - it would be Verstappen's last win until Brazil in late October. The result demonstrated that McLaren now had the pace to challenge Red Bull consistently, with Norris securing both pole position and fastest lap. The competitive shift that had been building since Miami was now undeniable, setting the stage for a genuine championship battle.