The race took a decisive turn on the opening lap when Russell, who had overtaken pole-sitter Verstappen with a superior start, lost control of his Mercedes. The British driver touched a damp white line at the final corner, sliding into the pit wall and forcing his retirement. Russell later described the incident as a miscalculation, noting that unexpected battery deployment pushed him wider than intended, leading to significant consequences for his race.
Hamilton Secures Podium as McLaren Duo Collide
With Russell out of contention,
The closing stages of the race were marked by a dramatic collision between the two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while they were battling for fourth and fifth positions. The incident allowed Kimi Antonelli to move up to fourth, while Norris managed to recover and finish in eighth, securing the final point-paying position. Piastri reflected on the incident, noting the extra workload it created for the team ahead of the upcoming qualifying session.
Following the top three, Liam Lawson took fifth for RB, with Oliver Bearman and Nico Hulkenberg finishing sixth and seventh respectively. Verstappen, while acknowledging his fortune regarding Russell’s exit, admitted that his own start was poor and requires improvement before Sunday’s Grand Prix. The teams are now preparing for the qualifying session to be held later on Saturday.
