Norris trailed Oscar Piastri through the race, having been edged to pole by just 0.012s, but he was forced out with seven laps left due to a mechanical failure. A gap that was set to grow to 16 points suddenly extended to 34, with Norris and McLaren suffering their respective first retirements of the campaign.

A dejected Norris sat with his head between his knees on the bank at the side of the track as his title hopes suffered a massive blow, with Piastri opening up a 34-point lead with nine rounds of the ...