The Baku City Circuit once again served us its fair share of drama! From a late collision leaving the race to end under a virtual safety car, to Williams picking up double points, to McLaren overtaking Red Bull in the Constructors Championship, lets discuss some of the best moments from the entertaining race in Azerbaijan
McLaren top the Constructors Championship as the Red Bull downfall continues
It was a tale of two halves in the McLaren garage during qualifying as Lando Norris, who they recently put all their confidence in, quite simply had a mare in failing to get out of Q1 and lining up in P15. Whereas ‘wingman’ Oscar Piastri put his McLaren second on the grid behind only pole sitter Charles Leclerc. For the second week in a row Max Verstappen failed to qualify in the top five and lined up in P6, behind his teammate for the first time this season.
When race day arrived Piastri drove an exceptional race managing to get past Leclerc by smartly using his DRS advantage on lap 20. For the remainder of the race the pair pushed each other to the limits (all whilst remaining fair!) and Piastri crossed the line first earning his second win of the season. A very different win from Hungary, and one where he ultimately proved his capability in Formula 1!
Further down the pack Norris also drove a great race working his way up from P15 to P6 and was later boosted up to P4 thanks to Sainz and Perez (which we will get onto shortly). He also FINALLY managed to get a good start and first lap which even featured an overtake! Crucially the McLaren driver was able to finish above his title contending opponent who finished one place behind him. The 37 points earned mean McLaren now top the constructors championship for the first time since 2014 with a 20 point advantage.
Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez are NOT friends!
Red Bull’s weekend went on a downhill spiral from Saturday and it was a weekend where Sainz and Perez just couldn’t stop clashing heads (or tyres). Before the race even started they were sent to the stewards together twice for impeding each other in the final two practice sessions, and their tempers seemingly continued into the race.
With Oscar Piastri holding off Leclerc the battle for second was still on, there was a three way battle between Leclerc, Sainz and Perez, all three drivers had their moments ahead but it all went to chaos when Sainz and Perez both misjudged the other and ended in the worst possible situation - in the wall and out of the race.
It was a real shame for Perez who was outperforming Verstappen for the first time in a while at a track where he has a strong record and could’ve had a confidence boost.
“They have not been great friends this weekend. That’s the third time they’ve nearly, well… they finally finished the job.” Is how Oscar Piastri summed up the building tension between the pair in the cool down room and I couldn’t have put it better myself!
Another podium gifted to George Russell
Remember a few races ago in Austria when Lando Norris and Max Verstappen crashed when fighting for first place and George Russell just sailed through to claim the win … well we basically saw a repeat of that in Baku, but instead of the win he inherited P3. You’ve got to be in the right place at the right time and Russell has definitely proven that after having a strong second stint!
Will Charles Leclerc’s Azerbaijan luck ever change?!
Just two weeks on from the incredible scenes in Monza where Leclerc won in front of the Tifosi, the Monegasque driver managed to put his Ferrari on pole at Baku with a 1:41.365. When the five lights went out Leclerc kept himself in front, but as the race progressed we were treated to some great battles particularly at the front end of the pack, which unfortunately went against the pole sitter.
Although it wasn’t quite an ‘I am stupid’ moment like this track gifted us in 2019, Leclerc didn’t defend ‘well enough’ from the oncoming McLaren as he struggled on the hard compound tyres and forfeited his lead. This along with Sainz’ DNF meant Ferrari left a little (or a lot) more empty handed than expected.
Ollie Bearman breaks record in Haas
The Bear-man strikes again! On the same weekend he excitedly took part in his first FP2 session, Bearman took the final points position and became the first driver EVER to score points for two different teams in his first two Grand Prix starts after taking over from the banned Kevin Magnussen. He even got to race it out with Sir Lewis Hamilton! I think I kind of expected him to get some points in the Ferrari … but in a Haas … I for one can’t wait to see him race more next season!
Alpine play the long game
Alpine opted to start the race on the hard compound tyres and their strategy was to hope and wait for a safety car to hopefully have a cheap pitstop and steal some points … but there was no safety car until the virtual one on the penultimate lap. It was worth a try but this time they had no such luck – so if you wondered why Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon both pitted on the final lap there’s your explanation!
Double points for Williams
Not only is he the new flirt of the paddock, but Franco Colapinto is actually bringing the points in for Williams! For the first time this season, both Williams drivers managed to finish inside the points, Alex Albon took P7 and Colapinto finished P8. The ten points mean Williams now sit 8th in the Constructors Championship.
The pair managed to make it into Q3 a day prior with Colapinto actually qualifying above his teammate, but the more experienced driver picked up the pace when it mattered overtaking his rookie. It’s sad to say but in just two races the Argentinian rookie has already picked up quadruple the amount of points Logan Sargent managed in half a season!
What was your favourite moment of the race? Let us know in the comments below!
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