George Russell beat Max Verstappen to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, crossing the line 0.1 seconds ahead after 51 laps. Verstappen, who started eighth, closed in over the final laps, but Russell held firm. The win cuts Russell’s deficit to championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
This was an unusual race weekend: the Azerbaijan Grand Prix ran on Saturday to make way for the country’s Victory Day. Russell started from pole after a dominant qualifying session and built an 11.1-second lead over Oscar Piastri before the first safety car. Two crashes bunched up the field, wiping out that gap and setting up a tense finish. FIA documents and BBC Sport reports confirm Russell’s strong qualifying performance. Verstappen managed only eighth, while Sainz started ninth and Alonso was 19th after a difficult weekend for Aston Martin.
Russell was also fastest in the opening practice sessions, beating Verstappen by 0.400 seconds in FP1 and 0.552 seconds in FP2. Mercedes had an early pace advantage in Baku.
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar returned from a wrist injury and finished third, giving the team its first double podium since China 2024. Verstappen’s charge began after Alex Albon crashed on lap 31, bringing out the safety car and forcing teams to rethink their strategies. Verstappen quickly passed Piastri and chased Russell, closing to within four tenths in the final laps. The Mercedes driver held firm. Sky Sports noted how close Mercedes and Red Bull were in practice and qualifying.
For Spain’s drivers, the day went two ways. Carlos Sainz started 14th after a yellow flag penalty and fought back to tenth, ending a points drought that stretched back to Canada. He passed Nico Hülkenberg late to claim a single point for Williams. Safety cars helped Sainz recover on a day when Williams finally looked competitive. BBC Sport and other outlets confirmed his return to the points, a welcome boost for Williams.
Fernando Alonso’s race ended on lap 21. His Aston Martin lacked pace and top speed before the Honda engine failed, forcing him to retire. Lance Stroll had already dropped out on lap nine with a hydraulic failure. Aston Martin left Baku empty-handed and faces major questions before Sepang.
Two safety cars changed the race. Albon’s crash bunched up the field and gave Verstappen a shot at the win. A separate incident involving Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly also brought Lando Norris into the second safety car, shuffling the order again. Through it all, Russell stayed cool and made no mistakes under pressure from Verstappen.
Kimi Antonelli started 16th after brushing the wall in qualifying and finished fifth. He also suffered a hydraulic issue in FP1, missing part of the session. The Italian still leads the championship, but Russell is closing in. ESPN and FIA results show how close the title fight has become after Baku, with the points gap shrinking.
Surprise exits and crashes continue to shake up this motorsport season. Earlier, Spain’s junior cycling coach was expelled from the Montreal World Championship for reckless driving. Top-level competition keeps exposing the strengths and vulnerabilities of leading teams and athletes.
Russell’s win shifts the momentum: Mercedes delivered under pressure, and Red Bull is back in the hunt. Sainz’s single point ends a bad run and gives Williams a boost, while Alonso and Aston Martin are in trouble. Without quick fixes, their season could slip away. The next races will show whether Baku marked a turning point or proved to be a blip.
