Raikkonen had challenged the two Mercedes cars for the lead into Turn 1, but was soon back down to third – and came under attack from Verstappen after exiting Turn 6.

The Red Bull driver got a run on the Finn and committed down the inside at the fast Turn 7 left-hander, his right front making contact with Raikkonen's left rear and forcing the Finn wide.

"The Red Bull hit me on the rear," Raikkonen radioed, and the clash prompted an investigation by the stewards – but they ultimately decided to take no further action, and Raikkonen conceded after that the move was "fair enough".

"Obviously there was a lot happening in the first lap and I got a little bit of sideways, lost the line a little bit, into 6 and Max was very close into 7," Raikkonen recalled.

"The car in front of me [Valtteri Bottas] disturbed me a bit [into Turn 6], and he [Verstappen] got the run, I tried to hang on the outside.

"I got a bit sideways because we touched a little bit and lost the place.

"We did the best out of it, not taking each other out and fighting through that kind of corner, it's not easy to stay next to each other when you try.

"That's what happens sometimes, it wasn't ideal for me but it was fair enough."

Verstappen, for his part, reckoned the move made for good viewing.

"It was hard racing but good racing," he said. "Kimi is experienced enough to handle the situation well.

"We had a little touch but I think it's good for the sport."

The overtake proved crucial for the outcome of the race, as Verstappen went on to beat Raikkonen to victory after misfortune for the two Mercedes cars ahead.

This was despite the Ferrari driver cutting into Verstappen's lead late on on worn softs, the pair split by 1.5s at the finish line.

Asked whether he could've won the race if given a few more laps, Raikkonen said: "Sure, [it was] possible, but this is the laps that we have in the race. It's always easy to say 'if' this, 'if' that.

"Basically, I think we had good speed, especially in the end. A little bit tricky on the first part in the second stint, and then once the tyre started to do the work, was good.

"I think it's disappointing - obviously it's great for the team, a lot of points, against the team that we race in the championship [Mercedes], they had a pretty awful day.

"In that side it's good but obviously we want to win. And we had this speed in the end, but it didn't happen today."