Beginning second, Perez slotted in behind Leclerc at the beginning and caught with him by way of the opening lap, earlier than the race was paused for a security automotive interval produced after Yuki Tsunoda hit the wall at Flip 14 on the opening lap.
The Japanese driver tore the right-rear tyre off the rim, showing to have had contact with team-mate Nyck de Vries to break his entrance wing.
A digital security automotive emerged for the particles, as Tsunoda crawled again to the pitlane. Though AlphaTauri put a brand new set of tyres on to attempt to salvage one thing from the dash, the automotive was noticeably crabbing on the straights and the staff was investigated for releasing the automotive in an unsafe situation.
This developed right into a full-blown security automotive by the third lap, with proceedings restarting on the sixth lap as soon as the particles was cleared from the observe.
Leclerc let fly on the restart to remain forward of Perez, main the subsequent two laps with the Mexican conserving tabs on him.
However as soon as DRS was out there as soon as extra Perez turned a larger drive in Leclerc’s mirrors and, on the finish of lap seven, reeled the Ferrari in on the two.2-kilometre Neftchilar Avenue straight and swept previous to choose up the lead of the 17-lap race.
The Monegasque caught with him and had a short look down the within into Flip 3, however in the end was not introduced with a possibility to return the favour.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23, Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing RB19, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB19, the remainder of the sector at the beginning of the Dash
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
With larger straightline velocity, Perez may slowly begin to edge away from Leclerc and ultimately broke freed from DRS vary as Leclerc was extra involved with making an attempt to handle his tyres to maintain forward of Max Verstappen.
The Ferrari driver briefly closed in as soon as once more and received again inside DRS vary of Perez, however the Crimson Bull driver turned up the wick and as soon as once more broke freed from Leclerc at virtually a second a lap’s benefit, rising to 4.4s by the flag.
Leclerc managed to hold on in second from a late Verstappen cost, because the reigning champion was hampered by harm in a first-lap skirmish with George Russell.
The Mercedes driver had a greater getaway and was side-by-side with Verstappen by way of the opening array of corners, ultimately breaking previous at Flip 3 – with Verstappen complaining that Russell had touched him by way of the primary lap. His Crimson Bull sustained a small gash in its left sidepod, as he momentarily dropped to fourth.
However after the restart following the protection automotive, Verstappen caught an incredible run on Russell and seared previous to reclaim third place.
Nevertheless, Verstappen was unable to make inroads into Leclerc and dropped exterior of DRS activation for many of the dash – solely attending to inside a second within the last couple of laps.
Russell claimed fourth forward of Carlos Sainz, who had battled earlier on with Lewis Hamilton, and broke previous the Briton after falling behind earlier than the restart.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB19, battles with George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14, forward of Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Alonso adopted by way of in the identical transfer to get forward of Hamilton, as Lance Stroll claimed the ultimate level after profitable out in a battle with Alex Albon.
Stroll made a transfer previous the Williams at Flip 1 from a good distance behind, and held off Albon into Flip 3.
Oscar Piastri accomplished the highest 10 after passing team-mate Lando Norris – who struggled for tempo and in the end pitted to show his race right into a glorified check session.