Zak Brown promised that there were no team orders for the drivers for the race. It was hot and there were a lot of unknowns: how long the tyres would last, would everyone make it safely through the first chicane, would it rain?
It was a clean start and everyone made it around the chicane, however Russell locked up and hit the gravel coming out of it and had to go down the escape route. It was neck and neck, Piastri took the lead from Norris, with both Ferraris having come through, LeClerc then took Norris as well in the melee. Hamilton had overtaken his team mate and Verstappen had gotten up to 6th, claiming that Hamilton had pushed him off. We suspect that the McLaren drivers were told to hold places in whichever positions they came out of the first corner, so Norris was not expecting Piastri to make a move?
Further back, Ricciardo had run into Hulkenberg, who had to go for a long pit stop but not before bumping into Tsunoda. Ricciardo was given a 10 second penalty, which the team didn't carry out properly, so he got another penalty, with an instinctive touch to the car from a mechanic.
There were some early stops made, including a hasty and messy pit lane entry for Norris, coming out a lowly 9th from 3rd. LeClerc and Hamilton came in on the next lap to respond. Piastri was able to pit and come out in front of LeClerc and Norris. Verstappen was late but was served an unusual extra long stop by Red Bull.
There was a lot of talk on McLaren radio about "Papaya Rules", which everyone was uncertain about. It turned out that it meant they were allowed to race each other, fairly. It was fairly argy-bargy up and down the order. The Haas were all over the shop. Russell had a run in with Perez. Norris left the track as LeClerc chased him down and then made an early (and slow) pit stop. Mercedes also gave Russell a slow stop; as Crofty said, "Sticky nuts here today."
With twelve laps to go, Norris had to overtake Verstappen for 4th and it made for good viewing. The Ferraris were in the lead and possibly going for the one-stop. Williams were in 10th and 12th, a good showing for the rookie.
With 8 laps to go Piastri took Sainz for second, as the Ferrari tyres started to wear out. Then Norris overtook him. The Tifosi roared LeClerc on, as Piastri couldn't decrease the gap. How could they Ferrari it up? He had been on radio and told the team to stay quiet in a Raikkoneneque message.
With a lap to go, Stroll pitted, he wouldn't get the point for the fastest lap from 19th and last. Williams came home a respectable 10th and 13th. Norris took fastest lap on the last lap for a bonus point. Beyond the top 4 of the Ferraris and McLarens, Hamilton took 5th, Verstappen 6th, Russell 7th, Perez 8th, Magnussen 10th with a penalty to take and Albon scored a point too. With Stroll 8 places behind Alonso, you must wonder how much longer this situation is tenable at Aston Martin.
LeClerc gushed in Italian over the radio. The two races he would have most wanted to win this year, he has. Good for him for choosing to answer some of the pre-podium interview in Italian, Roberg did a hasty translation. It's a shame they were wearing a black and grey chequered suit for the home win.
McLaren are now only 8 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors Championship, and the gap between Norris and Verstappen has decreased. McLaren have now said they will need to consider bringing in team orders to help Norris secure the Drivers Championship. I think we have to look forward to Piastri being a very boring dominant champion - duller even than Vettel or Mansell.
Magnussen had a penalty and was then given some points on his licence, which means he will miss the next race.
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