Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell took the first two starting positions for Mercedes, followed by Oscar Piastri (McLaren-Mercedes), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Lando Norris (McLaren-Mercedes), and Sir Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari). Max Verstappen (Red Bull) experienced problems with his car and qualified only in eleventh position.
Off the starting line, Mr. Antonelli dropped several places and Mr. Piastri went into the lead. The McLaren driver held onto first position comfortably for most of the opening stint. Mr. Norris came into the pitlane on lap 17, opting to stop early. It looked like a good decision, with a decent changing of tyres and a return to the track without too much impeding traffic. Mr. Leclerc followed suit, and managed to return to the track just ahead of Mr. Norris, so did not lose position.
Oliver Bearman of Haas-Ferrari crashed on lap 22 while avoiding Franco Colapinto of Alpine, bringing out the safety car—not long after most of the frontrunners had stopped, but before Mr. Antonelli and Sir Lewis had stopped. Those two drivers benefited from a pitstop that cost less time than usual, since everyone on track was driving slower under the safety car conditions, and gained positions as a result. At this stage, it was Mr. Antonelli leading from Messrs. Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, and Norris. The safety car came in on lap 27, and Mr. Antonelli kept his hold on the lead, with Mr. Piastri second. Mr. Antonelli quickly pulled out a convincing lead over the rest of the field. Mr. Russell lost places in this middle stage of the race, settling into fifth position behind the two Ferraris.
With about ten laps left, Mr. Leclerc overtook Sir Lewis to take third position. Despite a few changes in position from that point, the race finished with Mr. Antonelli winning ahead of Mr. Piastri and Mr. Leclerc. This saw Mr. Antonelli go into the lead of the World Drivers’ Championship. Mercedes remained comfortably at the front in the World Constructors’ Championship.
The next scheduled races in the MIddle East have been cancelled due to the military conflict in Iran.