While Tour 17 fell, Verstappen had extended his advance on Piastri more than two seconds, with Russell five seconds from McLaren in third. With the window as the pit approaches, does one of the frontrunners choose to make a stop?
The ascent of Norris continued, the Briton having taken fifth row of Antonelli – just as Piastri was called to Pit, the Australian loops on a set of hard tires in the 20th round. After a slightly slow stop of 3.4s, he reappeared in the sixth place while Verstappen remained away, said the Dutchman.
Other stand stops were thick and fast, Russell picking hard tires before Verstappen also stopped, the world champion purging his penalty in the process and returning to the fifth track.
In front, Piastri has surveyed the nail in Hamilton around 22, the Australian taking the third while Leclerc led from Norris in front, the two cars not yet stopped stopping. Hamilton stopping shortly after, the first five stood in Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Verstappen and Russell while the race reached its road point in the 25th round.
Further on, Alonso tried to take a step on Bortoleto to get tightened near the wall, which prompted the Spaniard – which is part of the management team of the Kick Sauber driver – to ask his Aston Martin team to check the car.
