Max Verstappen produced a flawless performance at the Baku City Circuit, leading all 51 laps to claim a dominant victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Starting from pole, he managed the Red Bull Racing car’s tyres expertly while maintaining perfect lines through Baku’s tight streets. Verstappen crossed the finish line 14.609 seconds ahead of second-place George Russell, demonstrating both his skill and the car’s superiority on one of the season’s most demanding circuits.
George Russell battled through physical discomfort to secure second for Mercedes, showing remarkable focus and resilience. Despite being unwell, he defended his position from the midfield and responded to late-race challenges, keeping his composure under intense pressure. His performance highlighted not just his driving ability but also Mercedes’ strategic setup for managing tyre wear and traffic in a stop-and-go street circuit.
Carlos Sainz completed the podium in third, marking a milestone for Williams with their first podium finish since 2017. Sainz’s precise overtakes and clean execution throughout the race allowed him to capitalize on others’ mistakes, including incidents involving Piastri and other midfield rivals. The result was a significant boost for both driver confidence and team morale heading into the next round of the championship.
McLaren endured a difficult race. Oscar Piastri triggered the anti-stall system with a false start and crashed at Turn 5 on the opening lap, compounding his Sprint Race misfortune. Lando Norris salvaged seventh place but was unable to make up for lost ground. The team’s weekend was a reminder of Baku’s unforgiving nature, where even minor errors are punished by narrow walls and limited run-off areas.
Ferrari faced challenges in team coordination, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finishing eighth and ninth, respectively. A miscommunication over team orders resulted in Hamilton staying ahead of Leclerc despite an agreement to swap positions if feasible, prompting Hamilton to issue an apology afterward. These incidents, along with retirements like Piastri’s, reshaped the points and underscored the importance of precision, patience, and strategic execution at a street circuit like Baku.
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