Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Reuters

Max Verstappen fought back from an early spin to win the Spanish Grand Prix after title rival Charles Leclerc retired from a dominant lead.

It was Verstappen's fourth victory in six races this year, helped by Red Bull imposing team orders on Sergio Perez.

And it gave him the championship lead for the first time in 2022 and he heads to Monaco next weekend with a six-point advantage over Leclerc.

Mercedes' George Russell took a strong third after a long and valiant attempt to hold Verstappen at bay early in the race.

And his team-mate Lewis Hamilton fought back to fifth place following a first-lap collision with Kevin Magnussen's Haas, which gave the seven-time champion a puncture and dropped him to the back of the field.

Hamilton moved into fourth behind Russell with a move on Ferrari's Carlos Sainz around the outside of Turn One with six laps to go.

Read the full report here.

Image source, Getty Images

And that's where we'll wrap the Spanish Grand Prix.

No time to dwaddle, however, as we all need to prepare and refocus for the Monaco Grand Prix next weekend.

We'll be back for first practice on Friday, 27 May at 12:30 BST.

Thanks so much for your company, folks. I'll leave you with Andrew Benson's race report.

See you soon!

Before we say goodbye, some news about Lando Norris, who had been feeling unwell over the weekend.

McLaren say the 22-year-old won't be coming out for any media duties tonight and he is being checked over by the team doctor.

They added: "While cleared to race, with the extraordinary heat today, the team are now ensuring he is receiving a full health check."

Get well soon, Lando.

Charles Leclerc held a 46-point title lead in the (very) early stages of the season.

It's now defending champion Max Verstappen who is in charge by six points.

Red Bull are also now in the hot seat in the constructors' fight too, leading Ferrari by 26 points.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports: "We saw this growing through the race. At the end it was literally just making it over the line.

"His [Hamilton's] race pace was stunning. He would have raced for the win.

"On the first stint we need to look at how we manage the tyre. Somehow the cars flipped in terms of performance and we saw Lewis storming to the front.

"It [Mercedes' pace] is better than expected because I am always so pessimistic. We have moved clear from midfield and moved up by half a second to the front runners. There is more to come."

Lewis Hamilton was voted Driver of the Day by the fans and as he crossed the line Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff congratulated his man on a great recovery drive.

Let's hear Toto Wolff in full...

More form Christian Horner, speaking to Sky Sports, on the strategy calls which helped Verstappen overcome Perez: "They weren't in the same race. The strategy was different. The problem we had was we had temperatures raging - water, oil, brakes. The last thing you want to risk is a DNF when you could nail a one-two.

"Max had such a tyre advantage and Checo's tyres wouldn't have made it to the end.

"Our responsibility is bring both cars home. What Checo couldn't see at the time is he had such a long stint to do on that tyre. There is no point taking that risk. It was the right thing to do."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, speaking to Sky Sports: "That was race of two halves nothing seemed to be working in first half. He was stuck behind George we felt the best race was converting him to three stop and as it turned out that was the best strategy.

"The pace in the was very strong. Shame for Charles I think it would have been an interesting fight."

Lots to unpick over at Red Bull. Here is Christian Horner's assessment of today's race...

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes' George Russell, who finished third: "I would love to say that [that Mercedes are back]. I gave everything I could do to hold Max off.

"I am proud to be standing here. It hurt us a lot but when I had the Red Bull in the mirrors all I was doing was the maximum to keep them behind. It is a lot of points on the board. Well done to Max."

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who finished second, on the reaction he has received from the Spanish crowd: "You already have two very good drivers but I've been feeling a lot of support this weekend, so I'm really happy to be on the podium for the first time at the Spanish Grand Prix."

On whether he could have won the race: "I think it was close, but it's a great team result and I'm happy for that."

On being told to let team-mate Verstappen through:" "We were on different tyre strategies at the time, I let Max by in the beginning and I thought at the time that I could go by and not lose crucial seconds to make my strategy work.

"But anyway, it's a good team result."

Image source, Getty Images

Race winner Max Verstappen: "I went off when I had a lot of tailwind and lost the rear. My DRS was not always working. That made it very tough but we managed use strategy to get ahead. It was a difficult beginning but a good end.

"I tried to stay focussed. It is not nice when stuff like that happens. I am very happy to win and happy for Checo. It is a great result for the team."

Shall we hear what the top three drivers had to day?

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says it was a shame for Charles Leclerc today and it would've been an "interesting battle" between the two title protagonists in the second half of the race.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who looked to be easing to victory before an engine issue on lap 28, and Guanyu Zhou of Alfa Romeo were the only two drivers not to finish the race today.

John Guy: Absolutely unfair on Perez, to be told to let Max go past him. I'm sure Perez, would have won the race. Poor decisions from Red Bull

Career win number 24 for Max Verstappen.

Image source, Getty Images

Podium time. George Russell beats his chest as he signals to the crowd. Sergio Perez takes the Spanish podium for the first time. And last up, the winner, Max Verstappen.