Azerbaijan Grand Prix Report: Verstappen Takes Command
In a commanding display, Max Verstappen secured victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing ahead of George Russell and Carlos Sainz, who marked his first podium with Williams. Championship leader Oscar Piastri’s race ended prematurely due to a first-lap collision.
Piastri’s race began inauspiciously as he started from ninth, following a crash in Q3. The situation worsened after a false start saw him drop to the back. A lock-up at Turn 5 resulted in a crash, marking his first DNF since the 2023 United States Grand Prix, ending a streak of classifications in Formula 1.
Despite Piastri’s troubles, Lando Norris, his teammate and rival for the title, could only manage a seventh-place finish, gaining a meager six points. Piastri retains a 25-point lead in the championship as the season approaches its final rounds.
Verstappen’s dominance was evident as he led every lap from pole, achieving the fastest lap to complete a grand slam—his sixth career grand slam, now just two behind Jim Clark’s record. “The car was working really well on both compounds,” Verstappen noted. “I’m incredibly happy with this performance.”
Russell secured second place, 14.6 seconds behind Verstappen, improving two positions from his starting spot by strategically extending his stints on hard tires. “I’m really happy to be back on the podium,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of the result in the constructors’ standings as Mercedes now sits fourth, four points clear of Ferrari.
Sainz’s third-place finish was notable for its strategic execution. Starting second, he effectively defended against challengers, holding off pressure from teammates and rivals alike. Reflecting on his achievement, Sainz remarked, “It tastes even better than my first-ever podium.”
Liam Lawson finished fifth, achieving a personal best after a defensive drive, followed closely by Yuki Tsunoda in sixth. While Tsunoda had the pace to overtake Lawson, he could not find a way through, ultimately settling for sixth.
Norris’s struggle was compounded by the strategic decisions made by McLaren during the race. After a slow pit stop, he could only regain one position. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished eighth and ninth, respectively, while Isack Hadjar rounded out the top ten for Racing Bulls.
Notably, Alpine drivers faced challenges, with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto finishing a lap down in 18th and 19th, while several drivers, including Gabriel Bortoelto and Oliver Bearman, remained on the lead lap.
Final Results:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Liam Lawson (AlphaTauri)
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
As the teams advance towards the next race in Singapore, the championship battle intensifies, with Piastri seeking to secure his lead amidst escalating competition.
