But the action unfolded behind Verstappen with Hamilton taking centre stage. The seven-time world champion, starting from a lowly 12th, enjoyed a strong getaway in his Mercedes before slinging his machine down the inside of an unsuspecting Alonso, four places ahead of him on the grid.
Hamilton bumped into Alonso’s Aston Martin who then collided with team-mate Lance Stroll. Lando Norris was minding his own business on the outside of the opening right-hander only for Stroll, sent out of control by Alonso, to hit the British driver’s McLaren.
Stroll and Norris both retired with damage while Alonso had to limp back to the pits with a puncture. “Whoa,” said Alonso, 43, over the radio. “Hamilton arrived like a bull.”
Hamilton was on the intercom, too. “There was a gap on the inside so I went for it,” he said, protesting his innocence.
