[6] In the lead up to the weekend it was announced that Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi would be receiving new control electronics for the Grand Prix.

Williams determined Russell's chassis needed replacing meaning he would not be allowed to run in the second practice session.

The third qualifying session ended without any incidents, Valtteri Bottas took pole position after setting a lap time of 1:40.495, beating his teammate Lewis Hamilton by 59 thousandths of a second.

The remaining drivers consisted of, in qualifying order, Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez, Daniil Kvyat, Lando Norris, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Charles Leclerc who did not set a time due to his crash in the previous session.

Robert Kubica, Kimi Räikkönen, and Pierre Gasly were required to start from the pitlane due to suspension changes, a failed front wing deflection test, and for exceeding the 100kg/h fuel flow limit.

Lewis Hamilton initially challenged Valtteri Bottas for the lead taking the inside line from his teammate into turns 1 and 2.

Max Verstappen lost 4th place to Sergio Pérez whilst Charles Leclerc fell from 8th to 10th after being overtaken by Carlos Sainz Jr. and Daniel Ricciardo.

The stewards found that Williams had released Kubica into the pit lane earlier than permitted at the start of the race,[clarification needed] a rule the team were not aware of.

On lap 25 Romain Grosjean locked up his brakes at turn 15 and went up the escape road before rejoining the track dropping him from 11th down to 15th place.

Ricciardo attempted an overtake on Kvyat on the inside of the corner but locked up his brakes sending him down the escape road.

Ricciardo then reversed into Kvyat whilst attempting to rejoin the track causing damage to both cars which was sufficient to retire them from the race.

Grosjean made it back to the pits but Gasly pulled into an escape road causing a brief virtual safety car whilst his Red Bull was recovered.