Verstappen sets Red Bull challenge after storming win

Max Verstappen has challenged Red Bull to keep its dominance up for the remainder of the season after storming to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Dutchman resisted pressure from Ferrari's Carlos Sainz at the opening turn of the race before defeating the rest of the pack by 24 seconds at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, securing a Grand Chelem [by finishing first in every session of the weekend plus earning the fastest lap].

The result was his fifth victory of the year in seven races, with teammate Sergio Perez the only other driver to finish on the top step.

"It is a big pleasure to drive with a car like this. It showed again today," said Verstappen.

"We had quite a lot of different tyre strategies out there, for most of the race we were on the right one but again, a win here, it is incredible."

On Sainz's attack into Turn 1, Verstappen added: "I had the harder compound so I knew the start was going to be a bit tricky.

"Going around the outside at Turn 1 is always quite difficult but luckily nothing happened."

'That's what I like to see'

Perez could only reach fourth having started 11th on the grid, leaving Verstappen with a 53-point lead in the quest for a third F1 World Championship.

Urging Red Bull to continue its form, Verstappen said: "We had another strong weekend, that's what I like to see from myself and the team, hopefully, we can keep it up throughout the year."