As the margins between the top three remained incredibly close, Sainz asked whether Leclerc was managing, with the Spaniard seeming concerned that Piastri could “send it” at any moment. Further back the gaps were also fine in the latter half of the top-10, as Tsunoda, Albon and Gasly chased points in eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.
By Lap 23, the top four – all running the hard tyres – looked to have put their foot down, breaking away further from Russell in fifth. Leclerc had opened up a gap of more than one second from Piastri, as Sainz ran two seconds further down the road.
Elsewhere in the field, Alonso was leading a train from P12 stretching back to Bottas in P16. The Aston Martin driver had made places at the start after a tough qualifying on Saturday, but looked to be struggling to shake off his rivals in the midfield.
Norris – still within one second of Sainz in fourth – reported “abrasion” on the “front left” as the race headed towards Lap 29. Could the McLaren build enough of a gap to Russell in P5 to make a pit stop?
Graining looked to be an issue for many, with Norris’s engineer informing him that Sainz was experiencing the problem, while Mercedes and Aston Martin all seemed to be struggling with the same affliction. Strategy, as ever, was becoming an increasingly crucial factor in the race.
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