Verstappen Wins, Sainz the Smooth Operator in Azerbaijan GP

Max Verstappen delivered another masterclass as he cruised to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, extending Red Bull’s resurgence. The Dutchman controlled the race from pole position, surviving early drama and later pit stop phases to seal his fourth win of the season and back-to-back triumphs following Monza.

Behind him, George Russell executed a long first stint to climb into second for Mercedes, while Carlos Sainz held his nerve to secure a landmark podium for Williams.

Early chaos as Piastri crashes out

The drama began immediately when Championship leader Oscar Piastri jumped the start, triggered anti-stall and tumbled to the back before crashing into the barriers on Lap 1. The Australian’s retirement brought out the Safety Car and handed Lando Norris a golden chance to close the title gap.

However, Norris struggled to make progress, hampered by a slow pit stop and traffic. He finished seventh, cutting Piastri’s advantage to 25 points.

Strategy battles and midfield heroics

With strong winds and cooler track temperatures complicating matters, tyre strategy became crucial. Verstappen started on the hard compound, running long before switching to mediums to finish comfortably clear of Russell.

Sainz, on used mediums at the start, managed his tyres impressively before holding off Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli to seal third. His first podium with Williams sparked jubilant scenes in the garage, the Spaniard telling his team over the radio:

«This is my first smooth operation in Williams.»

Further back, Liam Lawson produced a gritty defensive display to take fifth for Racing Bulls, resisting fierce pressure from Yuki Tsunoda, Norris and Lewis Hamilton in the closing laps.

McLaren title hopes delayed

McLaren arrived in Baku with a chance to seal the Constructors’ Championship but their weekend unravelled. Piastri’s crash and Norris’ seventh place left them short of the points required, meaning the fight with Ferrari will roll on to Singapore.

Final classification (Top 10)

1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
2. George Russell – Mercedes
3. Carlos Sainz – Williams
4. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
5. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls
6. Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull
7. Lando Norris – McLaren
8. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
9. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
10. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls

The day belonged to Verstappen for his dominant win, but the celebrations were loudest at Williams, where Sainz’s emotional podium marked another step forward in the team’s revival.