The victory proved significant for the championship standings, as Russell successfully trimmed teammate
A Tense Finish in Baku
The race reached a dramatic conclusion following a final-lap crash involving Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas, which forced the leaders to slow down. Verstappen, who had mounted an impressive recovery drive from eighth on the grid, seized the opportunity to close the gap rapidly as the race resumed. The Dutch driver finished less than two-tenths of a second behind Russell, continuing his search for a first victory this season.
Russell admitted to a moment of panic during the final stretch, revealing that he lost his boost and power, which nearly allowed Verstappen to overtake him before the finish line. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar rounded out the podium in third place, marking a successful return to the cockpit despite dealing with pain from a recent wrist fracture.
Chaos and Championship Implications
It was a difficult outing for McLaren, as defending champion Lando Norris was forced to retire following a collision initiated by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto. The incident, which also involved Pierre Gasly, created a chaotic scene that allowed championship leader Kimi Antonelli to navigate through the field. Starting from 16th after a qualifying crash, Antonelli managed to finish fifth, aided by the misfortune of others.
Oscar Piastri’s race also unraveled when he locked his wheels while defending third place from Hadjar, sending the McLaren driver off-track and down to 14th. Ferrari struggled to maintain pace throughout the event, with Charles Leclerc dropping from second on the grid to finish fourth, while Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in sixth. The race also saw internal friction at Racing Bulls, where Arvid Lindblad finished seventh after a collision with teammate Liam Lawson, who was left frustrated by the incident.
