Russell reigns supreme ahead of Verstappen as Norris and Piastri CRASH!

As the race started George Russell got off the line well, but Andrea Kimi Antonelli did as well and it was enough to take P3 from Oscar Piastri. Further back Franco Colapinto took Alexander Albon’s P9. But Albon did not give up, and in the fierce tussle the Thai driver got the worst of it as he went off the road and onto the grass at Turn 8.

At the top the order remained the same with Verstappen pressuring Russell and Antonelli putting some distance in between himself and Piastri.

As the race progresses, Red Bull’s inability to preserve its tyres took Verstappen out of contention for the lead and reeled him into the clutches of Antonelli. On lap 12 as the overtake was on, Verstappen bolted to the pits to switch to the hard compound tyres. Russell then covered off the undercut the following lap successfully. Antonelli however, did not manage to cover Verstappen off, as Lando Norris having moved past Fernando Alonso was hounding Lewis Hamilton for P3, whilst the seven-time world champion was allied into the pits.

On lap 17 Oscar Piastri was the last of the top 6 drivers to ditch the medium tyres, which released Lando Norris into the lead of the race and free air, with Charles Leclerc in P2, Russell, Verstappen, Antonelli and Piastri rounding up the provisional top 5.

On lap 28 Charles Leclerc came into the pits as Verstappen and Russell continued on their fight for the actual lead of the race, with Norris responding to the undercut threat by pitting on lap 29.

However, Red Bull’s inability to manage its tyres let Russell slip away and allowed Antonelli to reel in the 4-time world champion, who stopped on lap 38 to try and defend his second place from Antonelli, who tried to undercut the Dutchman the following lap, but failed to do so.

With the race’s net leaders stopping for the last time a question loomed with Verstappen’s degradation not up to par: Would the Dutchman do a three-stopper again? After Piastri and Norris pitted Leclerc was released into the lead with Russell and Verstappen in the net lead.

Lance Stroll was issued a penalty for forcing Pierre Gasly off the track rendering his home race a complete disaster.

Piastri then set out to put the pressure on Antonelli, however the Australian couldn’t really make the move on the Italian which reeled Norris into the fight for P3. Ahead, in the lead of the race, Verstappen started gaining on Russell.

Norris then started chasing Piastri down for P4, with the Australian giving no respite in the close quarter battle with his title rival and teammate. The battle soon became chaos as Norris crashed into Piastri.