There was another late change to the grid as Kevin Magnussen started from the pits due to engine component changes.
16 of the 20 drivers started on mediums, with Tsunoda, Hamilton and Bottas on softs. Magnussen began on the hards.
Max Verstappen got the perfect launch, with both McLarens struggling off the line with wheelspin. George Russell also nailed Oscar Piastri for P3, with Leclerc jumping Pérez for 5th as the Mexican had nowhere to go following a strong start. The Red Bull had to back out as he had would have ended up in a Piastri-Russell sandwich.
It was a wonderful start for Pierre Gasly, jumping both Astons to move into 7th. Carlos Sainz passed Lance Stroll for P9 as well.
After jumping Ricciardo on the opening lap, Hamilton passed his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda with a beautiful move into turn 11 on lap 2 for P12.
Trying to overtake Logan Sargeant for P18, Kevin Magnussen locked up at turn 1 and took a trip through the gravel.
The first move in the top 10 outside of lap 1 came on the eighth tour as Carlos Sainz passed Fernando Alonso for P8 around the outside into turn 1. The Aston driver fell out of Pierre Gasly’s DRS.
Sainz kept his forward momentum going, passing Gasly for P7 four laps later. They went side-by-side through turn 1, but the Ferrari driver eventually got the job done through the tight turns 2 and 3.
Lewis Hamilton continued to move through the pack, passing Hülkenberg and Stroll to move into the points by lap 14. The seven-time World Champion passed former teammate Fernando Alonso a couple of laps later to take 9th.
Lando Norris closed in on Max Verstappen, forcing the Dutch driver to go defensive into turn 1 on lap 17. A lap later, the Brit easily overtook the World Champion as the McLaren’s superior degradation came into play once again.
Consistently putting pressure on Oscar Piastri for P4, Ferrari went for the undercut with Charles Leclerc. It worked a treat as they managed to get George Russell as Mercedes boxed a lap later. Ferrari delivered a 1s quicker stop.
Verstappen came in at the end of lap 27, with Norris responding a lap later. The Brit had pulled out an almost 7s lead before it.
Following a stop on lap 24 to switch to hards, Lewis Hamilton overtook Ocon, Hülkenberg and Magnussen as he worked his way through the pack once again. Pierre Gasly went long, allowing Hamilton to easily undercut him for P8.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri extended and boxed at the end of lap 33, coming out in P5, 4s behind George Russell.
Norris led Verstappen (8.3s), Leclerc, Russell, Piastri, Pérez, Sainz, Hamilton, Hülkenberg and Magnussen halfway through the Grand Prix.
There was a 5-second penalty handed out to Lance Stroll for speeding in the pits.
A remarkable 5-car battle took place for P10. Magnussen on very old tyres was passed by Albon, Gasly and the Astons down the main straight. The French driver managed to go around the outside at turn 1 of the Williams driver on his much fresher boots at the same time.
On his fresher tyres, Piastri cleared Russell for 4th and quickly set about Charles Leclerc.
Norris, +10s to Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Pérez, Sainz, Hamilton, Hülkenberg and Gasly was the top 10 after everyone made a stop.
On lap 47, Carlos Sainz made a beautiful move around the outside of Sergio Pérez into turn 1 for P7 after a couple of close attempts previously.
Over 5s behind Sergio Pérez, Lewis Hamilton pitted from P8 to put on the softs to try and create a tyre offset. The Brit immediately pumped in a fastest lap.
At the end of lap 54, George Russell came in from 5th as the Mercedes driver was coming under serious pressure from Carlos Sainz. Ferrari showed far stronger race pace than Mercedes. He dropped to P7 behind Sergio Pérez.
On his aging tyres, Nico Hülkenberg was a sitting duck, passed by Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso to drop out of the points.
Norris strolled away out front, winning by over 22s from Max Verstappen, pumping in a fastest lap on the final tour. A very strong drive from Charles Leclerc saw the Monegasque driver end up on the podium in P3, holding off Oscar Piastri on much fresher boots.
Carlos Sainz had a very strong drive to P5, with Pérez, Russell, Hamilton, Gasly and Alonso completed the points scorers.
