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From 17th on the grid, it appeared to be a case of damage limitation for Max Verstappen with championship rival Lando Norris on pole.
Not a bit of it. Verstappen gained six places on the first lap, and by lap 12 was up to sixth on the back of a four-car group fighting for third, with the top two of George Russell and Norris only eight seconds ahead.
As the rain got heavier and Russell and Norris pitted for fresh tyres, Red Bull kept Verstappen out. A red 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 safety car. At the restart, Verstappen came from a long way back to pass Ocon into Turn One and he disappeared into the distance. His fastest lap of 1:20.472 was more than a second quicker than any other driver.