In another sign that Red Bull is significantly faster than any other team, Perez climbed from fifth on the grid to second and faced little challenge after that.
Sainz’s third place was his first podium finish since the United States GP in October as a challenge from George Russell’s Mercedes faded.
After qualifying second, Leclerc talked of Ferrari making a “step forward” compared to its dismal 2023. But the Italian team couldn’t get close to Red Bull on race day.
Leclerc’s challenge to Verstappen ended when the Dutch driver held the inside line at the first corner. After that, Leclerc was overtaken by Russell, Perez and his Ferrari teammate Sainz in quick succession.
Sainz, in particular, fought closely with his teammate — and then did it again after Leclerc briefly got back ahead at the pit stop. It was Sainz’s first race since it was announced he would lose his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton for 2025.
Russell was fifth, Lando Norris sixth for McLaren, and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton seventh after an uneventful race in the second Mercedes. Oscar Piastri of McLaren was eighth, ahead of the two Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
