Behind Verstappen, Albon drove an excellent race in his Williams. He lost a position to team-mate Carlos Sainz early on, but regained it a few laps later and consolidated a strong result to confirm Williams’ revival.

Antonelli held off the Ferrari challenge, whether from Leclerc or Hamilton, to take sixth, and the debrief at Ferrari may be interesting after shenanigans over the radio.

Hamilton pushed hard to be let by on his softer mediums tyres in the second part of the race. When he was rebuffed he said this was “not good strategy” and while being told they would get back to him, said: “Have a tea break while you’re at it.”

After finally being let by, Hamilton did begin to close on Antonelli, but Leclerc stuck with him, never dropping much more than a second behind, and in the final five laps, the team ordered Hamilton to give the place back.

After Hamilton apparently initially did not act on the instruction, Leclerc told them not to bother, and leave them both to try to close on Antonelli, but the order came anyway and Hamilton moved aside.

Sainz challenged Hamilton on the closing lap but had to settle for ninth, while Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda took the final point in 10th despite a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane.