Penalties for both Mercedes
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton kept the team symmetry going by finishing fifth and sixth for Mercedes – but both had adventures on the way to scoring those solid points. Russell picked up a five-second penalty for cutting the first chicane following his pitstop in a brief battle with Esteban Ocon’s long-running Alpine. He was far enough clear in the closing stages that the extra time didn’t matter, even though the black cars lacked for top speed on the circuit where it counts for most.
Hamilton’s own five-second penalty was more controversial. After a disappointing Saturday, the seven-time champion lined up eighth and chose the alternate strategy by starting on the hard Pirelli tyre, running longer before switching to the medium for what still promised to be a long stint in warm conditions that created higher than expected degradation. Once the stops shook out, he was at least on the faster tyre and closed on the battling trio of Alex Albon and the two McLarens. Lando Norris had jumped ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri after the stops – although not without slight contact at Turn One – so the Australian was Hamilton’s first target.
The 38-year-old, fresh from confirming he will remain at Mercedes at least until the end of 2025, got a run on lap 41 and moved ahead on the brakes into the second chicane – but not without moving across on Piastri. The McLaren’s left-front made contact with the Merc’s right rear and both were forced to take to the escape road. It ruined Piastri’s race as he was forced to stop for a new nose and finished a pointless 12th.
Hamilton deserved his penalty and later apologised to Piastri, but like Russell it didn’t cost him. He pulled off superb clean passes on both Norris and Albon to secure sixth and was far enough up the road at the finish to ensure the extra five seconds made no difference to him.