Oscar Piastri’s great victory and Lando Norris’ comeback, but also Max Verstappen’s new complicated race…find the highs and lows of the Azerbaijan GP.
Tops
Piastri, the conqueror
During the week, McLaren had announced that Lando Norris would now be given priority in his quest for the world title. However, Oscar Piastri was given carte blanche after his leader’s failed qualifying. Second for a long time, the Australian pulled off a classy move on lap 20 to surprise Leclerc with a dive on the inside of turn 1. An overtaking move that propelled him into the lead, a position he has never relinquished. His second victory of the season.
Norris’s comeback
He was leaving at 15e and had to limit the damage. He did much better than that. Starting on hard tires, he completed a very solid first stint of 38 laps. This brought him back into the top 6 but his stop, for the mediums, put him back in 7e 15 seconds behind…Max Verstappen. He had 13 laps to catch him, ten were enough for him to overtake him and send a hell of a message to his rival for the world title. Finally 4e After the clash between Sainz and Perez, Norris had a great race.
Also readFormula 1: Relive Piastri’s victory at the Azerbaijan GP
Williams in the running
The British marque had already placed both drivers in Q3 for the first time this season and they did it again in the race. Alex Albon took seventh place ahead of Franco Colapinto, who impressed in his second F1 race. In Baku, Williams scored 10 points while it had only scored six points from the first 16 rounds.
Flops
Verstappen n’y arrive plus, Red Bull non plus
With just one podium in the last five races, no wins in the last seven Grand Prix and a lead that continues to shrink over Lando Norris (59 points), Max Verstappen is in a tough spot, just like Red Bull, which has given up first place in the constructors’ standings to McLaren. When nothing goes right…
The Sainz-Perez clash
The end of the race promised to be beautiful with a three-way fight for the last two places for the podium between Leclerc, Perez and Sainz. At the start of lap 50, Perez attacked Leclerc who stayed in front with a good defense. Sainz took advantage to pass the Mexican who wanted to take back his property on the following straight. The Red Bull then seemed able to do so but the Ferrari moved slightly to the left and sent both cars into the wall. Result? retirement for both and a largely avoidable scene in the end.
Also readFormula 1: The spectacular accident that sent Perez and Sainz into the wall at the Azerbaijan GP
