Sainz seized the lead from Verstappen on the second lap with an overtake around the outside at Turn 10 and maintained his position throughout the race. His victory in the 58-lap race was secured a lap early following George Russell’s crash at Turn 6, prompting a virtual safety car.
Just two weeks after undergoing appendix surgery, Sainz returned to claim his third F1 career victory, following his win in Singapore last year.
Despite Verstappen initially preserving his lead from pole position, Sainz remained within DRS range, enabling him to overtake the Red Bull driver on the second lap.
Verstappen encountered further issues with his Red Bull, resulting in smoke emerging from the back of his car, and he ultimately retired due to a brake fire.
This incident altered the dynamics of the race. However, Sainz had already taken the lead and built a gap over Lando Norris to secure his advantage during the opening pitstop phase.
Norris faced pressure from Charles Leclerc but managed to maintain his position until Leclerc’s pit stop on the ninth lap.
Following a virtual safety car period caused by Lewis Hamilton’s engine problem, Sainz retained his lead over Leclerc, ultimately securing victory despite late challenges. Norris finished third, followed by Piastri in fourth, delighting the home crowd.
