🏁 The Azerbaijan Grand Prix
📍 ‘Baku: Russell Wins by a Bonnet’s Length’
▪️George Russell led from pole in Azerbaijan, but Baku had no intention of allowing a quiet Saturday.
▪️Two Safety Car periods brought Max Verstappen into contention, and the Red Bull drew alongside on the final straight.
▪️Russell kept his Mercedes ahead by just 0.196 seconds.
▪️The opening: Russell made a clean start and built a comfortable lead while Verstappen and returning teammate Isack Hadjar pursued Oscar Piastri.
▪️The interruption: Alex Albon’s crash brought out the Safety Car.
At the restart, contact involving the two Alpine drivers and Lando Norris triggered another.
Norris retired; McLaren’s afternoon worsened when Piastri later locked up and fell out of the points.
▪️The finish: Verstappen pressed Russell to the flag but could not complete the pass.
Hadjar crossed the line third on his return from injury.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth; championship leader Kimi Antonelli recovered from 16th on the grid to fifth.
▪️The championship picture:
📍 ‘Antonelli’s advantage over Russell has narrowed, while McLaren left Baku without a point.’
