The theatrics continued with a line-up of minor celebrities on the grid and then a truly awful rendition of the national anthem by Becky Hill. Bring back Damian Lewis I say.
It was not expected that the Race Director would start the race under the Safety Car for a rolling start, especially as it was now dry and sunny. LeClerc, Bearman, Bortoleto, Hadjar and Russell decided to come in at the end of the Formation Lap for dry tyres, which meant they would start from the pit lane. Piastri though thought that the last sector was too wet for slick tyres. The Safety Car was recalled in the event.
It seemed like a clean start with Verstappen, Piastri and Norris holding their places. Unseen by the cameras, Lawson went off the track and brought out the Yellow Flags. There were great plumes of water coming from the back of the cars. Hamilton fought Norris for third place and they were wobbling around on the tricky track and the drivers that chose slick tyres would be in trouble. However the Virtual Safety Car was needed to clear Lawson's Racing Bull. This would help those dry-tyred cars. It turned out that Lawson and Ocon had come together; apparently all started by Tsunoda, who was later awarded a penalty.
Colapinto had retired in the pit lane with a faulty car before he'd even started, no one really noticed.
There was an opportunity to pit for new tyres but only Antonelli took it, they would have had information from Russell, who was struggling on his slick tyres, so it seemed an odd choice.
Verstappen got the race going again but Bortoleto couldn't keep his slick tyre car on the track and spun as soon as he tried to speed up. He was able to get out of the gravel and tried to bring his broken car back to the pits but at least we didn't need a Safety Car and was able to keep racing. Until he didn't make it and retired it somewhere it could be easily taken off the track side. A Virtual Safety Car was enacted again. Stroll pitted for soft, slick tyres.
After a very long time, only eight laps had happened, Piastri was able, with slightly more grip, to get past a shaky Verstappen for the lead, and quickly pulled out a larger-than-DRS gap. The drivers started racing properly.
Antonelli lost a place to LeClerc down in 13th but Mercedes brought him in for a second stop and onto wet tyres. The rain did come down and Norris was on the back of Verstappen, whose tyres were so bad he went off the track. The top three all came into the pit lane, stacking the McLarens, so Norris came out behind Verstappen.
As the rain got heavier, into proper Scottish territory, the Race Director sent out the Safety Car to keep things, well, safe. LeClerc had a big off, going straight across the grass just before.
There were several laps before we went racing again. It was Hamilton and Russell who really fought for places immediately. The spray was still heavy and Hadjar ran into the car in front of him, Antonelli. And the Safety Car came out again.
Verstappen was too aggressive as the race got underway again but Piastri had braked too hard before him. He was too confident and the Red Bull spun and was put to the end of the top ten, scooting about, he fought with the Williams'. Bearman had a big off across the grass even further back. Piastri received a ten second penalty for his actions. This could give the race win to Norris after all.
Antontelli had to retire from the damage he sustained during the incident with Hadjar.
A number of dry laps passed by and then, on lap 35, DRS was enabled and drivers were thinking about dry tyres. Somehow Stroll was in third place, until Hulkenberg and then Hamilton got passed him. Alonso was the first driver to take dry tyres and came out in last place; Russell was the next and he was in 13th, which by this point, was three places up from last. You had to go carefully on those slick tyres as Russell went for a fast, uncontrollable spin off across the grass and gravel. The track was not ready.
Sainz and LeClerc, old team mates had a battle. Norris ahead was putting in the fastest laps on his intermediate tyres.
Despite all the knowledge gained from watching Russell and Alonso, Stroll, Verstappen, Gasly, Hamilton and Sainz all came in for dry tyres which seemed like madness. Hamilton was overtaken by his team mate and the Haas cars came together.
With seven laps to go, Alonso overtook Albon for 8th. Hulkenberg was somehow back in third with Hamilton behind him. Norris was in the lead. Piastri was struggling, going off the track but asking the team to swap the drivers positions if the team felt his penalty wasn't fair. LeClerc had another off through the gravel and only just made it back onto the track.
The sun stayed out until the end of the race. It was an emotional victory for Norris, even more so for Hulkenberg as he took his first podium in third place. Jenson Button had a difficult interview with Piastri, who initially congratulated Hulkenberg if not Norris and refused to speak much about his incident behind the Safety Car.
Norris held it together very well on the podium, receiving two identical trophies, one made from Lego. What happened afterwards was a shame as the focus was much more on Piastri being upset than Norris winning. McLaren's PR will not be happy.
Sauber however had much to celebrate. Hulkenberg won the popular vote of Driver of the Day and the team went wilder than McLaren. With Binotto and Wheatley now in charge, it seems like Sauber might be a force to contend with in the future and the seats in that team may be more hotly pursued following the last two races. Could this be where Verstappen chooses in the end?
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