Rookie driver Piastri,winner of that 19-lap sprint,finished ahead of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in what became a three-stop race after Pirelli warned of the risk of blowouts.
Piastri’s best race result continued an impressive streak for the Australian rookie,who achieved his first career podium finish at the Japanese Grand Prix two weeks ago and won the Qatar sprint race Saturday.
Piastri told his team it was “probably the hardest race I’ve ever had in my life,” adding his thanks for “whoever bowled everyone over at turn one,” in a reference to the crash at the first corner that took out Mercedes teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton,who had both started behind Verstappen on the grid.
Verstappen finished 4.8 seconds clear of Piastri.
“It was a bit close for comfort,I think,in that last stint. But[the] pace was OK. Another win,unbelievable,” he said.
The relatively slim gap flattered the Australian,with Verstappen never looking like he was under any pressure,and also setting the fastest lap.