BARCELONA - Max Verstappen (1) with the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 Honda during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 22, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. ANP

Max Verstappen takes lead in F1 standings with Spanish Grand Prix win

By Adam Stites | Last updated 5/22/22

Max Verstappen is at the top of the Formula One drivers' standings for the first time this season after vaulting ahead of Charles Leclerc with a win at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Verstappen, 24, dealt with early troubles after driving into the gravel in turn four and losing a couple track positions in the process.

VERSTAPPEN GOES INTO THE GRAVEL!

A carbon copy of what happened to Sainz takes the defending champion from 2nd to 4th.#SpanishGP | #F1 pic.twitter.com/WrmEIFtCOf
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 22, 2022

About 40 laps later, Verstappen drove to the lead when fellow Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez was instructed to allow his teammate to pass. Pérez, who finished second, was heard on the radio calling the instructions "very unfair" and voiced some frustrations after the race before eventually calling it a "great team result."

Perez: "I'm happy for the team, but we need to speak later"#F1 #SpanishGP
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) May 22, 2022

Verstappen has now won three consecutive races and passed Leclerc in the standings after the latter lost power and didn't finish the race. Verstappen now has 110 points on the season, six ahead of Leclerc's 104 points. Pérez is third with 85 points.

More must-reads: