Prediction - hope I'm wrong, but just feel like I've seen this movie before.
Piastri gets a fractionally better start off the line, forcing Norris to defend wide, aggressively pushing Oscar off line on the opening corner exit, slowing them both down. Piastri gives Norris extra room to avoid contact, further compromising his exit (Commentators praise Norris for his defensive positioning).
Max follows Norris through the corner to take 2nd, and Sainz uses a cleaner exit to get inside Piastri into turn 2, before he also runs wide and damages Piastri's car. (Sainz comes over the radio blaming Piastri; Piastri makes a dry joke and gets on with it but is lacking top-speed). Brundle calls it a racing incident, the rest of commentary think Piastri should have conceded and admitted fault with his sarcastic comment.
Norris and Max disappear into the distance, Sainz losing half a second per lap - but Piastri and Hamilton unable to pass. 15 laps later, Oscar finally gets past Sainz who immediately pits, as does Hamilton, Verstappen and a lap later Norris - Piastri takes the lead.
McLaren leave Oscar out for an extra few laps to try and help Lando, but the speed differential is too great and both Lando and Max fly past Oscar on the same lap. Oscar finally pits and comes out in 5th, now 15 seconds behind Lewis and Sainz - where he finishes, unable to make a late overtake despite closing rapidly in the latter stages with fresher tyres.
Somewhere in the race, DR gets caught behind Magnussen after attempting an undercut and loses 5 positions.
Piastri gets a fractionally better start off the line, forcing Norris to defend wide, aggressively pushing Oscar off line on the opening corner exit, slowing them both down. Piastri gives Norris extra room to avoid contact, further compromising his exit (Commentators praise Norris for his defensive positioning).
Max follows Norris through the corner to take 2nd, and Sainz uses a cleaner exit to get inside Piastri into turn 2, before he also runs wide and damages Piastri's car. (Sainz comes over the radio blaming Piastri; Piastri makes a dry joke and gets on with it but is lacking top-speed). Brundle calls it a racing incident, the rest of commentary think Piastri should have conceded and admitted fault with his sarcastic comment.
Norris and Max disappear into the distance, Sainz losing half a second per lap - but Piastri and Hamilton unable to pass. 15 laps later, Oscar finally gets past Sainz who immediately pits, as does Hamilton, Verstappen and a lap later Norris - Piastri takes the lead.
McLaren leave Oscar out for an extra few laps to try and help Lando, but the speed differential is too great and both Lando and Max fly past Oscar on the same lap. Oscar finally pits and comes out in 5th, now 15 seconds behind Lewis and Sainz - where he finishes, unable to make a late overtake despite closing rapidly in the latter stages with fresher tyres.
Somewhere in the race, DR gets caught behind Magnussen after attempting an undercut and loses 5 positions.
