It was a great start from Norris but Antonelli cut across tight behind him, he went wide twice and took avoiding action over two corners. This meant that Verstappen was able to get past him. Hamilton wanted that place from him. It was all a bit messy but all the drivers knew their best chance to win the race was to take it at the beginning. Norris got away into the clean air showing that was true.
Behind him, after a lot of pleading over the radio, Verstappen had to move over to let Antonelli past him so that Hamilton could get past him. The Ferrari was having a slow brake failure though so it wasn't long before Verstappen was back. In a matter of corners, Leclerc was past too then Russell. With the failure soon dropping him back to 22nd place, he was getting black and white flags for going off the track. Ferrari did not want him to stop on track because Leclerc was on the hard tyres and did not want the Safety Car brought out. He got it back to the pits but we didn't see how they stopped him - did the mechanics grab him? Was there some sort of net put across?
Stroll's brakes also failed and he did stop at the side of the track on lap 15. Norris had just passed the pit lane entry as a Virtual Safety Car was declared so Antonelli and all those behind him took the cheap stop and he would have to wait. Leclerc on the hard tyres did not pit but Russell in the same position did. Norris was told to box but it was too late and he came in as the VSC ended. Alonso had to get a whole new nose after colliding with his comadpre Sainz, ruining Aston Martin's weekend. Norris's mechanics could not get one of the tyres on either. The whole couple of laps was a disaster for many but, as always, played right into Antonelli's hands. Leclerc was the race leader with the Mercedes behind him. Norris was in fifth. His excellent start should have secured race victory.
There was action amongst the drivers at the bottom end of the points. At the front, Leclerc just kept going, allowing Verstappen and Norris to catch up with Antonelli. There didn't seem much chance of any real racing taking place. The Red Flag or Safety Car that Ferrari wanted did not happen and with five laps to go they pitted Leclerc who came out in fourth.
Antonelli acknowledged straight after the race that Norris should have won. All the good luck during the whole season has flowed his way, washing aside his competitors, none more so than Russell who was left adrift in fifth place.
In the wind down room, the grown-ups almost ignored the young winner as he gamely tried to make conversation. The unusual trophy looked like a horseshoe but when you discovered that it is a model of Le Monumentale corner, the greatest on the track, it makes it much more special.
We don't know how many races are left of the season but I do feel we know who the drivers and constructors champions will be. Antonelli is now 81 points ahead of his team mate in second place. The best that Russell can hope for is that another team does not put in a big challenge and he will have to then take team orders to protect him. Yes, I've gone there. The kind of catastrophe that could stop him is only a Michael Schumacher broken leg kind of one. I hope we end the season in Italy, that would be amazing. And I hope that Russell, Norris, Hamilton et al regroup over the winter and come back stronger because I do not need the next decade to be nothing but Antonelli. Remember when we all thought Vettel was sweet?
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