Pole: Max Verstappen
Winner: Max Verstappen
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen 1:24.319
Carlos Sainz will not start the Grand Prix due to an engine leak in his car. Perez is starting from the pit lane due to a new engine unit being put into his car after yesterday's crash in the sprint.
1-10
On the opening lap, the two Mercedes clashed into turn 1 and Hamilton clips the side of Russell. The safety car is out as Hamilton is out of the race and Russell is able to continue. Bottas, Magnussen, Stroll and Lawson all pit for new tyres as the safety car is ending. In lap 5, Verstappen pulls away with Piastri in second and Alonso in third. Russell down in 14th goes onto the dirt to try and get past Perez. Russell gets ahead of Perez and is on the move as Hulkenberg gets a 10-second time penalty for an incorrect starting position. In lap 8, Stroll gets ahead of Magnussen for P16 as we see Russell get past the Alfa Romeo of Zhou. Russell makes another move on Sargeant using DRS to make his way back up the field.
10-20
Lap 12, Alonso has pit along with Gasly for new medium tyres with the Aston Martin crew having a 2.3-second stop. Lawson has been shown the black and white flag as Piastri is told to come into the pits we see Russell head up to p4 as Leclerc also pits. Lap 13, Norris now pits as Alonso gets ahead of Leclerc in a close battle. Hulkenberg and Sargeant pit as Hulkenberg serves his penalty. Russell is on a 4 stop strategy as he comes in to change his tyres and comes out P12. Plenty of moves out on track as Perez gets past Zhou for P3 but will have to pit in the next 2 laps. Lap 16 and the world champion has built up a 22-second gap to the rest. In lap 18, Verstappen and Perez both pit as Verstappen comes out just behind Albon who is asked to box the following lap. In lap 19, Norris makes a lovely move on the outside to get ahead of Leclerc as Russell makes another move at turn 6.
20-30
Alonso gets past Bottas for P3 and makes the charge to Piastri. In lap 21, Russell gets pushed out wide from Gasly as he tries to move outside the Alpine for P7. The next round of pit stops comes around as the bottom six all change onto hard tyres. In lap 23, Russell makes a clean move around the outside of a Gasly at turn 1. Lawson, Albon and Perez all have a black-and-white flag on the verge of receiving a penalty. Piastri, Leclerc and Ocon all pit on lap 26, stroll gets past Leclerc as Zhou gets ahead of Sargeant for P9. Alonso, Gasly and Sargeant come into the pits as Alonso reports he is struggling with the heat. Perez has been given a 5-second penalty for track limits. Piastri and Albon are having a great battle for P4 as Norris is looking good for pace on new medium tyres running in P7. Piastri moves up to P4 using DRS on the main straight to get ahead of the Williams.
30-40
Yuki goes around the outside of Albon in a tight battle for P14. Russell makes his third pit stop as on lap 33 Alonso goes onto the gravel but makes it back onto the circuit and goes down to P7. As we see the replay Alonso may have rejoined the circuit in an unsafe manner as he gets ahead of Leclerc but only just as he gets onto the racing line. Lap 35, Russell is flying and is now up to P4 with 10 seconds to get to him. Sargeant reports he is struggling physically in these conditions which are being reported to be worse than Singapore where drivers lose over 2 kilos in sweat alone. Sargeant comes onto the radio and reports that he is going to continue despite reporting he is feeling sick. Zhou pits on lap 36 as Alonso’s incident is being looked into by the steward. In lap 38, Ocon gets ahead of Bottas to take P7 on the main straight using DRS as Perez has another 5-second penalty for track limits. Norris is closing in on Piastri both McLaren drivers running P2 and P3 in a great weekend for the team.
40-57
Bottas, Stroll and Magnussen pit to go to the end. Stroll is the latest driver to be shown the black and white flags. Sargeant has slowed down and made his way into the pits as he has struggled and unfortunately has to retire. In lap 43, Piastri comes into the pits as Stroll gets a 5-second penalty for track limits. In lap 45, Norris pits for new tyres as Piastri is ahead as Alonso and Gasly pit along with Albon. In lap 46, Gasly gets a 5-second penalty for track limits as we come towards the end of the race all eyes are on Piastri in his rookie season to see how he can manage his tyres. Norris is given team orders to hold the position as Albon also gets a 5-second penalty for track limits. McLaren is now concerned about Russell who may try to put soft tyres on at the end to try and push for the podium. In lap 50, Norris currently holds the fastest lap as we see Russell going into the pits to go for the soft tyres. Russell is another driver showing he may be struggling with the heat as he has been lifting his visor up every pit stop and trying to get air into his helmet. Lap 52, Verstappen pits with a slow pit stop of 4 seconds but his dominance continues as he is 30 seconds ahead of the field. Norris and Russell are both lifting their visors up to get air into their helmets in one of the most physical races of the season. Gasly goes around the outside of Stroll and goes off the track at turn 2 in doing so and may have to give the position back. Gasly loses two places on lap 54 as he gives the position back to Stroll and Perez capitalises by going around the inside of Gasly at turn 1. On the final lap of the race, it is the champion Verstappen is in the lead followed by Piastri and Norris with Russell running in fourth in his recovery race but has also been shown the black and white flag. Gasly has another 5-second penalty for track limits as Norris is on the verge of DRS. Verstappen gets the hat trick on race day with the pole, the win and the fastest lap. Piastri comes home second in a beautiful drive in his rookie season as Norris brings it home P3 for McLaren.
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