Early on, Verstappen and Perez passed pole-sitter Leclerc and continued to exchange fastest lap times at the front of the field.
With Leclerc adding to his pole positions from 2021 and 2022, Verstappen taking second, and Sergio Perez taking third in the other Red Bull.
Verstappen recently signed a contract extension that will keep him with Red Bull until at least the end of 2028, when he will turn 30.
It seems likely that Verstappen will be the one to claim maximum points on the day but one should not forget Perez's skills when it comes to a street circuit.
Verstappen made his Formula One debut for Toro Rosso in 2015 when he was just 17 years old, becoming the sport's youngest ever starter.
A team may consist of any five drivers and any two teams, but each will have a $100 million budget. All of the drivers and their value in the fantasy game were disclosed on the off...
For the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Ricciardo and Norris were teammates at the papaya constructor and the Aussie finished behind his teammate on both occasions.
Formula 1 is currently taking a break after the Australian Grand Prix, where Perez finished fifth, and will resume with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the end of April.
At the initial race start, Verstappen was passed by both George Russell and Hamilton.
His concentration in activities outside the cockpit is what former F1 world champion Alan Jones believed to be his downfall.