With just four laps remaining, the gap was less than that. With three to go, Verstappen led for six corners, but had to yield after an illegal overtake. It was edge-of-your-seat stuff.
And it had all come together for the finale after a strategic battle that started early on.
The signs were ominous for Red Bull from even before the word go, as Sergio Perez — running two new power unit components after a precautionary Honda change overnight — stopped on the formation lap when an electrical failure saw his car cut out. He managed to restart it before the field completed its second formation lap, allowing him to take up a position at the end of the pit lane for the start.
