Once t🐼he two Red Bulls got through, Sainz and Leclerc duelled it out for the final place on the podium.

✅On a number of occasions, the pair tou⛦ched and locked up, nearly coming to blows.

Sainz ultimately maintained the position, scoring his first podium of F1 2023.

Reflecting on the battle with Sainz, Leclerc said: “This is what racing should be all the time in my opinion. This reminds me of the karting days when we were all on the limits. With Max we have had these battles in the past, with Chꦦeco we have had these battles in the past and ♛with Carlos today, it was really on the limit. 

“I personally really enjoyed it. There were so many moments were it was really trick. But I don't complain, thꦍis is why I love racing. The adrenaline you feel fighting each other, it w🦹as really fun.”

Giving his view on it, Sainz commented: "It was tough, hard racing, and it's alway🍸s been a pleasure to race Charles whenever we have had the chance.

"And today was the same. He is a grea🍬t racer, the same as Max and Checo. We had fun o🐭ut there and I hope the fans enjoyed it. 

"You cannot 🦄get any tougher than that what it was today, honestly I w༒as pushing the whole race to keep the Red Bull behind.

"That obviously made me use the rear tyres a lot, and I ended up paying the price with the rear tyres, but I🦩 did everything I could to defend and brought it home in P3, but it was a tough race for sure."

Team boss Frederic Vasseur admitted it w🌼as a “strange feeling” seeing his two drivers fight so hard.

"For sure it’s a bit of a strange feeling, but as you know, I’m a big fan o🤪f letting th🌠em race,” he added.

"It was a great feeling. I told them no risk. The notion of no risk is always relati💯ve, but I really apprecia🌺ted the last couple of laps and I hope that the fans did.

"As you can imagine, we’ll have the discussion after 🍨the race♒, but perhaps not tonight. Tomorrow they are in the factory.

"I don’t wanဣt to see it 🍷tonight, I will watch it tomorrow."