Red Bull will not change their approach to the remainder of the season despite failing to win the last three races.

Sebastian Vettel, who has an 83-point championship lead, and team-mate Mark Webber both called for a re-think.

But Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told BBC Sport: "We work as a team and the drivers don't need to tell the team we need to respond.

"Ferrari and McLaren are going through a competitive phase but we're still right there. We're pushing flat out."

Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson cheated death lastnight after crashing his high-powered McLaren F1 supercar accordding to the mirror.

Atkinson, 56, was driving the £650,000 car, which has a top speed of 230mph, when it is believed he lost control and spun it several times before smashing into a tree and then a lamppost.

Ponsiano Lwakataka hailed his victory in the drama-filled Pearl of Africa Rally as his one if best ever and the two-time national champion emphasised that the decision not to panic earned him the win.

In an event that saw many retirements, 2010 champion Jimmy Whyte retired on Day Two and so did local favourite Ronald Sebuguzi, who rolled his car. Meanwhile, overnight leader Jas Mangatcrashed out in the last section of the rally to hand Lwakataka an unlikely victory.

VALENCIA: Champions Red Bull played down McLaren hopes on Thursday that a Formula One crackdown on engine electronics would help to close the performance gap from Sunday's European Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel held off a stern challenge from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to win a thrilling Spanish Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton claimed a thrilling first victory of 2011 for McLaren as he chased down championship leader Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull in China.

Hamilton made one more stop than Vettel and made his fresh tyres work as he passed Vettel with four laps to go.

Button was denied third place on the penultimate lap as Mark Webber staged a brilliant comeback from 18th place on the grid to deny the Englishman.