Max Verstappen Takes Commanding Victory in Baku
Max Verstappen secured a lights-to-flag win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025, leading all 51 laps on the streets of Baku. The Red Bull star was untouchable, finishing over 14 seconds clear of George Russell (Mercedes) in second and Carlos Sainz (Williams), who claimed his first podium of the season in third.
It was a perfect weekend for Max Verstappen, who also started on pole. With the win, the four-time world champion cuts the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri to 69 points with seven races left.
Piastri Crashes Out on Lap 1, Norris Gains Six Points
Championship leader Oscar Piastri’s race ended in disaster. Starting ninth, the McLaren driver jumped the lights, activated anti-stall, and dropped to last before crashing at Turn 5 on the opening lap. It was his first retirement of the season.
His teammate Lando Norris started seventh and finished seventh, unable to make much progress despite a one-stop strategy. Norris closed the championship gap to Piastri from 31 to 25 points, but McLaren also missed their chance to clinch the Constructors’ Championship this weekend.
Russell Battles Illness to Secure P2
Despite being unwell all weekend, George Russell delivered a strong drive for Mercedes, finishing second after holding off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. The result marked Russell’s best performance since the summer break and underlined Mercedes’ progress in recent races.
Sainz Earns First Podium for Williams
After narrowly missing pole in qualifying, Carlos Sainz converted his strong weekend into his first podium for Williams. The Spaniard managed his tyres well and kept rookie Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) at bay in the final laps to secure third place.
Rising Stars Shine: Lawson and Tsunoda Impress
The midfield battle was fierce, with two standout performers:
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – finished a career-best fifth, fending off late attacks.
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – achieved his best result for the senior team with sixth place.
Both drivers strengthened their cases for future Red Bull seats, with Lawson in particular catching attention after outperforming several established names.
Ferrari Continue to Struggle
It was another tough weekend for Ferrari. Both cars started outside the top 10 and finished in the lower points:
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Lewis Hamilton – P8
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Charles Leclerc – P9
The Scuderia lacked pace and struggled to progress through the field, extending their podium drought.
Azerbaijan GP 2025 – Top 10 Results
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – Winner
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George Russell (Mercedes) +14.3s
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Carlos Sainz (Williams) +16.8s
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
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Lando Norris (McLaren)
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
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Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
Race Recap: How It Unfolded
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Lap 1: Max Verstappen holds lead; Piastri crashes out. Safety Car deployed.
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Mid-race: Russell and Antonelli battle behind Sainz; pit stops reshuffle order.
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Lap 27: Sainz pits, holds off Antonelli on fresher tyres.
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Final laps: Max Verstappen cruises clear; Lawson defends against Tsunoda and Norris for P5.
The race ran smoothly after Piastri’s early exit, with strategy and tyre management proving decisive.
Max Verstappen: “The Car Was Incredible”
After his dominant victory, Max Verstappen praised his team:
“This weekend has been incredible. The car worked really well on both compounds, and we had clean air to manage tyres. It wasn’t easy with the wind, but I’m really happy with this performance.”
Read More: Azerbaijan GP 2025: Max Verstappen Snatches Pole as Chaos Reigns in Baku – Sportskila
What’s Next: Singapore Awaits
F1 now heads to Singapore (October 3-5, 2025) at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. With Verstappen finding form and McLaren under pressure, the title fight is heating up as the season enters its final stretch.
