Leclerc transformed his pole place right into a lead on the first nook and appeared to take management of the race throughout the first stint, pulling out a six-second lead earlier than Piastri made his pit cease on lap 15.
Leclerc adopted him in a lap later and in idea ought to have simply had adequate cushion to carry the result in the top.
Leclerc stated he felt he and Ferrari had not made the correct set-up selections for the arduous tyre as a result of he had achieved no race-simulation operating on account of issues in Friday follow, and he struggled after his pit cease in consequence.
Piastri closed in on the Ferrari, taking his probability on recent tyres and, on lap 20, made a courageous, late dive for the within of Flip One to take the lead.
“They’d a decrease downforce bundle and we had a bit extra downforce however within the straights they have been flying and that’s in all probability the place we misplaced the race,” Leclerc stated.
“When he overtook me, I used to be not too nervous. I believed I’d follow him and overtake him once more as soon as the tyres have been as much as temperature. However that chance by no means arose once more. They have been too fast on the straights. It was a small misjudgement however it hurts.”
It was an outstanding transfer and appeared to catch Leclerc considerably off guard. He informed Piastri within the inexperienced room earlier than the rostrum that he had braked at his regular spot and anticipated the McLaren to sail on previous the apex.
Though Piastri was now within the lead, Leclerc was not achieved there, and he caught arduous to the McLaren, with Perez shut behind, looking for a gap.
For a lot of laps the three circulated collectively, with Ferrari urging Leclerc on over the radio.
A number of instances Leclerc was shut sufficient to strive a transfer into Flip One, however Piastri all the time lined the within line and had simply sufficient to carry the Ferrari at bay with aggressive however clear defence.
Into the closing laps, Leclerc started to wrestle together with his rear tyres and he dropped again from Piastri, the race now received for the Australian.
Leclerc now needed to fend off Perez and Sainz, who had a lonely race for a lot of the length however closed on the highest three throughout the last levels as Piastri measured his tempo to carry off Leclerc.
The dramatic climax was triggered when Perez went for a transfer on Leclerc at first of lap 50, with two to go.
Leclerc held him off into Flip One and Sainz was in a position sneak by the Crimson Bull earlier than Flip Two.
Perez bought a greater run by way of the nook and commenced to edge alongside the Ferrari on the next straight.
The Crimson Bull had its entrance wheel inside Sainz’s rear and the 2 touched, spinning violently into the wall and taking each out of the race.
The incident promoted George Russell’s Mercedes into third place – the Briton had a quiet first stint however started to make floor within the second stint and was capable of go Verstappen and Norris into what was fifth place earlier than the Sainz-Perez crash.