The rain that was promised - and about which much hand-wringing occurred - still hasn't fallen, but the race was moved forward anyway, because foresight is a thing. Kimi Antonelli, who apparently forgot he's not supposed to win three out of four races this season, thumped his chest and saluted the crowd as the Italian national anthem played. On this form, catching him might require a team of mathematicians and a miracle.
Lando Norris, asked if today's race was more fun than previous ones (drivers had complained about conditions), offered a diplomatic answer: "Some things have improved, some things are still the same." Translation: It's still a car race.
Antonelli credited his team's strategy, saying, "We managed to bring it open even though it wasn't easy." Norris, meanwhile, noted that they got "undercut" at the pitstop and should have boxed first. "Hats off to Mercedes and Kimi," he said. "We take it on the chin."
Charles Leclerc, who held a podium spot for most of the race, saw it evaporate on the final lap when his car apparently decided to become a spinning top. Oscar Piastri grabbed third, while Leclerc was passed by George Russell and Max Verstappen. "What a race! What a race man!" screamed Antonelli over the radio, likely startling a few engineers.
The Italian's lead stretched to nearly three seconds by lap 56, and despite a brief moment where he worried his tyres were "gone" (lap 37), he maintained composure. George Russell had a "tough, scrabbly day" down in sixth, at one point radioing: "I'm just four wheels sliding." To which we say: you're more than that, George - you're a person with feelings.
McLaren thought it would start raining around lap 25. It did not. There were a few drops, but by no means a deluge. The heavens stayed firmly closed, as if to mock everyone who checked the forecast. Antonelli, who doesn't turn 20 until August, now leads the championship. And the weather? Still undecided.