Verstappen gives back two places, then still recovers second

Max Verstappen’s first lap was far more complicated than his eventual second place suggests. After battling Lewis Hamilton, the Red Bull driver cut the track and rejoined ahead of the Ferrari. In the meantime he had also passed Antonelli. Red Bull therefore told him to give back two positions, to Antonelli and then Hamilton, rather than risk a five- or ten-second penalty.

Verstappen strongly disputed the call on the radio but complied on lap four. What followed at least vindicated the final outcome: the VSC gave him the right pit-stop window, Hamilton later retired, and Verstappen returned to the lead group. He finished second, 4.351 seconds behind Antonelli, after resisting Norris. Laurent Mekies believes P2 was the maximum Red Bull could have achieved anyway.