When the lights went out, Hamilton got off to the perfect start from second place… And it didn’t take long for there to be controversy, with Verstappen going inside Hamilton and the Briton heading off the track. With 20 laps to go, Hamilton opted not to risk losing position with a pit-stop. As the safety car led the field around the track, there was lots of chat about whether the race would restart – and whether the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would be cleared. They were, leaving Verstappen right on Hamilton’s tail for a one-lap shootout which the Briton was at a disadvantage for as he had older tyres.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•