However with DRS in play after only one lap, Sainz used the overtaking support to shut in on Verstappen and ship the group wild with a transfer on the run between Turns 9 and 10 – making the most of a “actually bizarre” second for the reigning world champion earlier within the lap.
“The automotive is free,” Verstappen added with a swear phrase on the next lap, earlier than cameras picked up an enormous quantity of smoke coming from the rear of his Pink Bull. “I’ve smoke, fireplace, fireplace, brake, my brake,” got here the following panicked radio message.
Pink Bull’s worst fears have been confirmed when Verstappen slowed, tumbled down the order and got here into the pits to retire his automotive, with the right-rear wheel hub visibly broken and mechanics wheeling it again into the storage for a better inspection.
Up entrance, Sainz now had a golden alternative to transform his lead into the primary non-Pink Bull win of 2024, with Norris as much as second forward of Leclerc, Piastri, Russell and Perez, as Stroll, Tsunoda, Hamilton and Alonso rounded out the ultimate points-paying positons.
With the lap charts but to hit double figures, soft-tyre starters Hamilton, Ricciardo and Zhou all pitted to tackle hards, with Russell the primary of the front-runners to ditch mediums for hards and Bottas enduring yet one more gradual pit cease amid wheel nut points.