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

On a🔯 nu𓂃mber of occasions, the pair touched 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 Checo we have had these battles ꧑in 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 coꦫmplain, this is why I love racing. The adrenaline you feel fighting each other, it was really fun.”

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

"And today was the same. He is a great racer, the༺ same as Max and Checo. We had fun out there and I hope the fans enjoyed it. 

"You cannot get any tougher than that whꦇat it was today, honestly I was 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 th🥃e 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 “stran꧟ge feeling” seeing his two drivers fight so hard.

"For sure it’s a bit of a strange fꦛeeling, but as you know, I’m a big fan of letting them race,” he added.

"It was a great feelin🐷g. I told them no risk. The notion of no risk is always relative, but I really appr🔴eciated 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. Tomorro💫w they are in the factory.

"I don’t want to see𒉰 it t🍌onight, I will watch it tomorrow."