Max Verstappen stormed to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, capitalising on Oscar Piastri’s dramatic first-lap crash to reignite talk of a Red Bull resurgence. Piastri’s mistake cut his championship lead over McLaren team-mate Lando Norris to 25 points, but Verstappen’s dominant display underlined that the Dutchman may yet have a role to play in the title fight.
Piastri’s crash was his first major error of the season, while Norris could only manage seventh after a frustrating afternoon stuck in traffic, meaning McLaren’s constructors’ title celebrations will have to wait.
Piastri’s Costly Weekend
The Australian endured a rare off-colour performance in Baku, crashing in both qualifying and the race. After jumping the start and being forced to reset, Piastri slid into the barriers just five corners later while attempting an ambitious move around Esteban Ocon. The early exit ended his run of consistent points and handed Norris a golden opportunity — one he failed to fully exploit.
Norris gained only six points in seventh, losing time behind Charles Leclerc and later trapped in a DRS train behind Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. A slow pit stop compounded his problems, echoing the costly delays he suffered in Monza.
Verstappen in Command
From the front, Verstappen delivered a flawless race, controlling his hard-tyre stint before pushing in the closing stages to secure victory and the fastest lap. It marked his fourth win of the season and Red Bull’s second consecutive triumph, signalling that their latest upgrades may have transformed the RB21 into a serious threat for the final stretch of the campaign.
“The car was working beautifully,” Verstappen said afterwards. “The last two weekends have been amazing for us. Singapore will be a different challenge, but we’ll see what we can do.”
Russell and Sainz Shine
Behind Verstappen, George Russell produced an inspired drive to finish second for Mercedes, bouncing back from illness and executing a smart long-run strategy. Carlos Sainz capped off a superb weekend for Williams by taking third, securing the team’s first podium in a full-distance race since 2017.
“Honestly can’t describe how happy I am and how good this feels,” said Sainz. “Today we nailed everything — not one mistake — and we managed to beat cars we didn’t expect to.”
Kimi Antonelli impressed in fourth, while Lewis Hamilton salvaged eighth despite a late team order mix-up with Leclerc. Lawson held off Tsunoda, Norris, and Hamilton in a thrilling late battle, showcasing the Racing Bulls’ progress and securing sixth place.
What’s Next?
Formula 1 now heads to Asia for the sport’s original night race at the Singapore Grand Prix from 3–5 October. With Piastri still leading by 25 points, Norris under pressure to respond, and Verstappen back in the spotlight, the Marina Bay Circuit promises another pivotal chapter in the 2025 title fight.
