Another 52 laps : Piastri also inside!
Another 52 laps : Verstappen gets his first of two sets of new hard tires. Stop in 2.3 seconds.
Another 53 laps : Verstappen in the pits!
Another 53 laps : Piastri is told that he must push. Hole back to 2.5 seconds.
Another 55 laps : we now have some pit stops from the drivers in the Achterveld. No drivers in the pits at the front. Piastri is now looking at Leclerc at 3 seconds.
Another 56 laps : Verstappen is also starting to grumble, his car is starting to suffer from the dirty air. He drops out a bit at Bortoleto.
Another 57 laps : the situation. Leclerc is 2.9 seconds for Piastri. Then a hole of 2.9 seconds to Russell. Norris is right behind that. Then there is another gap of 10.7 seconds to Alonso, Bortoleto and Verstappen.
Another 59 laps : Leclerc feels some ‘cuts’, stuttering in the engine, and asks the team what is going on. The speed is still good.
Hülkenberg will receive five seconds time for a false start.
Image of the start. Norris wants to turn to the right next to Piastri, but loses two places on Russell and Alonso in the dirt.
Another 62 laps : Verstappen is a bit stuck behind Alonso and Bortoleto.
Bortoleto does not get a punishment. The race management has looked at it.
Another 64 laps : Leclerc continues to run a strong pace in the front of free air and is now 2.7 seconds for Piastri. The World Cup leader was narrow faster in the last round.
Teammate Hulkenberg is also being investigated on a false start, so both Saubers. Moved before the start.
Another 65 laps : Leclerc gives gas at the front and has Piastri at 2.1 seconds.
Bortoleto is also being investigated on a false start.
Another 66 laps : Norris has also passed Alonso and is now driving fourth. Verstappen is already just behind Bortoleto.
Another 67 laps : Verstappen works along Stroll in the Chicane and has been torn to seventh place. The next in his visor is Gabriel Bortoleto. Leclerc is in charge of a 1.6 second lead on Piastri.
Another 68 laps : Leclerc does what he has to do and keeps the lead. Norris got out of place well, but Russell and Alonso did even better. Verstappen was lost to Liam Lawson, but now has that position back.
The start : Leclerc is in charge. Norris loses places to Russell and Alonso. Verstappen drops to 9.
We have tire news: the entire top 11 starts as expected on mediums. Behind it changes. For example, Hamilton starts hard, Sainz from soft. Also further back some gamblers on the soft band (Hulkenberg, Albon).
“I don’t expect everything to suddenly get better today,” Verstappen told F1TV. “But of course we just go for it.”
52 Laps to go : Piastri also in!
52 Laps to go : Verstappen Gets his first of two sets of new hard tires. Stop in 2.3 seconds.
53 Laps to go : Verstappen in the Pits!
53 Laps to go : Piastri is told to push. Gap Back to 2.5 Seconds.
55 Laps to go : We now have some pit stops from the drivers in the backfield. No drivers in the Pits at the Front Yet. Piastri is now facing 3 seconds to leclerc.
56 Laps to go : Verstappen is also starting to grumble, his car is starting to suffer from the dirty air. He’s dropping back a bit from bortoleto.
57 Laps to Go : The Situation. Leclerc is 2.9 Seconds Ahead or Piastri. Then a gap or 2.9 seconds to russell. Norris is Right Beind Him. Then there is another gap or 10.7 seconds to alonso, bortoleto and verstappen.
59 Laps to Go : Leclerc Feels Some ‘Cuts’, Stutters in the Engine, and Asks The Team What’s Wrong. The speed is still good.
Hülkenberg Receives A Five-Second Time Penalty For A False Start.
Image of the start. Norris Wants to Emerge to the Right of Piastri, But Loses Two Places to Russell and Alonso on the Dirt.
62 Laps To Go : Verstappen is a bit stuck Behind Alonso and Bortoleto.
Bortoleto Receives no penalty. The Race Management Has Reviewed It.
64 Laps to Go : Leclerc Continues to Run A Strong Pace in Free Air At The Front and Is Now 2.7 Seconds Ahead of Piastri. The World Championship Leader was Slightly Faster Last Lap.
Teammate Hulkenberg is also Being Investigated for a False Start, Both Saubers Therefore. Moved Before the Start.
65 Laps to Go : Leclerc Accelerates at the Front and Has Piastri at 2.1 Seconds.
Bortoleto is also Being Investigated for a False Start.
66 Laps to Go : Norris Has Meanwhile also passed Alonso and is now Driving Fourth. Verstappen is Already Close Behind Bortoleto.
67 Laps to go : Verstappen Works His way fits Stroll in the Chicane and Has Moved up to Seventh Place. Next in his sights is Gabriel Bortoleto. Leclerc has a lead or 1.6 seconds about Piastri.
68 Laps to go : leclerc does what he has to do and keeps the lead. Norris Got off to a good start, But Russell and Alonso Did Even Better. Verstappen had Lost a Place to Liam Lawson, but has now regained that position.
The start : Leclerc Keeps the Lead. Norris Loses Places to Russell and Alonso. Verstappen Drops to 9th.
We have tire news: The Entire Top 11 Starts on Mediums As Expected. Behind that it varies. For Example, Hamilton Starts On Hard, Sainz on Soft. Also Further Back Some Gamblers on the Soft Tire (Hulkenberg, Albon).
“I Don’t Expect Everything to Suddenly Get Better Today,” Verstappen Tells F1TV. “But of course we’re just going for it.”