“I don’t even remember what I said,” Hamilton said. As the various strategies played out, and the race entered its final third, Verstappen was leading from Hamilton and Russell, but the Dutchman had to stop again and the Mercedes drivers did not. Had the race carried on with no caution periods, Verstappen would have pitted and dropped to third. Hamilton did not admit after the race, but he had made a mistake. “I really thought we were going to be fighting for the win,” Hamilton said. “There is no doubt we have the race pace to be able to win. “The Red Bull is the faster car at the moment especially in race pace,” Leclerc said.

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