Overview
- Max Verstappen took the lead when Lando Norris slid wide into Turn 1 and controlled the race through the single pit stop to secure victory.
- Norris finished second and Oscar Piastri rose to fourth after Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s five‑second penalty for a false start, maintaining a three‑way title contest.
- A rain‑soaked qualifying reshuffled expectations, with Norris on pole, Max Verstappen second and Lewis Hamilton suffering the worst qualifying of his career in 20th.
- Mercedes avoided a potential post‑qualifying sanction after proving setup documents were sent but delayed by an FIA IT security check, and George Russell reported a Q3 power‑steering issue yet started fourth.
- Opening‑lap incidents included Gabriel Bortoleto colliding with Lance Stroll, forcing Stroll’s retirement, as teams continued to grapple with tyre graining and sparse long‑run data throughout the weekend.