Oscar Piastri started on pole ahead of Lando Norris with Max Verstappen lurking behind, while Lance Stroll's injury meant the grid was made up of one car fewer than usual

Just as the race appeared settled after the final round of pit stops — kicked off by Verstappen’s third when he was just a few seconds adrift of Norris — a safety car period intervened, caused by Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes engine expiring smokily.