Russell’s victory was dominant: the British driver, claiming his second win of the season after Canada and the fifth of his career, faced the possibility of Max Verstappen’s soft tires giving him an initial advantage. However, taking the lead at the first corner, Russell never had to look back, thanks to an incredibly competitive Mercedes W16.
On a hot street circuit, Mercedes demonstrated unexpected competitiveness, likely aided by a new front wing capable of flexing more than usual. The Silver Arrows took a significant step forward, consolidating second place in the Constructors’ Championship with a 25-point advantage over Ferrari. Kimi Antonelli also contributed to the points haul, finishing a solid fifth after losing a position at the start but managing to control the two Ferraris throughout the race.
The attention was initially on Max Verstappen, who had qualified ahead of the McLarens with his RB21. However, the Dutchman could not execute the race he had planned. The soft tires at the start did not provide an advantage, and he had to manage the compound carefully, preventing any attack on Russell. Although he appeared to have a margin to control Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Verstappen struggled with inconsistent gear shifts and nearly collided in the same corner where he had hit Russell during practice on lap 37. From that point, he focused on defending from Norris rather than challenging the Mercedes.
Norris attempted a few attacks but quickly realized passing would be risky, so he stayed in Verstappen’s slipstream without taking further chances. Norris gained three points on Piastri, who retained a 22-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Piastri was visibly frustrated over radio after a slight collision with Norris at the start, caused when Lando braked aggressively and nudged Max Verstappen’s diffuser, forcing Piastri to move to the right to avoid a bigger incident. Norris only lost the left side panel of his front wing, which hung for the rest of the race without creating danger.
Despite McLaren claiming the Constructors’ title, they failed to win their third consecutive race. The MCL39 cars could not fully exploit their technical advantage on a favorable circuit. Verstappen’s Red Bull, though no longer at full potential, secured second place, proving the RB21 can compete even on high downforce tracks after two wins in low-drag setups. However, the points gained on Piastri were minimal; it is unlikely the Australian will lose 63 points over the remaining six races.
The first four drivers raced in a class of their own. Kimi Antonelli led the second group, collecting valuable points despite finishing 33 seconds behind his more experienced teammate. Ferrari struggled with track position: Charles Leclerc climbed to fifth after an excellent start, but the SF-25 lacked the pace to challenge the leaders. Leclerc had to lift and coast to manage brake overheating, limiting his ability to attack.
Lewis Hamilton, after a second pit stop to switch to soft tires, managed to set the fastest lap and mount a recovery. Leclerc allowed Hamilton past to challenge Antonelli, but brake issues forced the seven-time world champion to reduce pace, cutting corners to avoid risky situations and aiming to finish seventh. Hamilton defended his position from Fernando Alonso but came under investigation for exceeding track limits.
Fernando Alonso scored valuable points for Aston Martin with a consistent race. Oliver Bearman also impressed, finishing in the points with the last-place Haas. All other drivers were lapped, including Carlos Sainz, who earned a single point with Williams after starting from the back due to a rear wing infringement. Sainz overtook Isack Hadjar, whose Red Bull lacked hybrid power, showcasing determination despite the difficult circumstances.
Leave a Reply