Hamilton and Russell started fifth and sixth, and took up third and sixth on the restart after a red flag for a start crash. But while they were able to keep up appearances in the opening laps, they soon faced the same tyre degradation woes that hampered them in Saturday's sprint, having to come in earlier than everyone else after a first stint on softs.
'Because it can't be that within seven days, you're finishing on the podium with probably one of the two quickest cars and then finish eighth.' To make matters worse, Hamilton and Russell were easily picked off on the straights after Mercedes opted to go for a bigger rear wing and more downforce.