From seventeenth on the grid, it gave the impression to be a case of injury limitation for Max Verstappen with championship rival Lando Norris on pole.
Not a little bit of it. Verstappen gained six locations on the primary lap, and by lap 12 was as much as sixth on the again of a four-car group combating for third, with the highest two of George Russell and Norris solely eight seconds forward.
Because the rain obtained heavier and Russell and Norris pitted for contemporary tyres, Purple Bull saved Verstappen out. A crimson flag halted the race with the Dutchman in second, behind Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, and allowed them a ‘free’ change of tyres.
After the race resumed, a crash for Williams’ Franco Colapinto led to a security automobile. On the restart, Verstappen got here from a great distance again to cross Ocon into Flip One and he disappeared into the space. His quickest lap of 1:20.472 was greater than a second faster than another driver.
