Max Verstappen won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday. While the Red Bull driver, who left Van pole, rode unthreats for the victory, both McLaren drivers were disappointing. Lando Norris did not get any further than seventh place. Oscar Piastri crashed for the second day in a row.
With seven Grands Prix to go in 2025, Verstappen still brought his colossal backlog on Piastri with two victories in a row back to 69 points.
For now it was more important that Norris did not really benefit from a rare error series of World Championship leader Piaastri, who ended in the tire stacks again after a crash in qualifying on Sunday. Norris entered six points, making the gap now 25 points.
The weekend plagued George Russell drove to second place, where he refers the surprising Carlos Sainz to third place. That was by far his best result of the season for the Williams driver. Sainz managed to stay for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Yet with a fourth place, the Italian also experienced a strong race in the second Mercedes.
Liam Lawson finally lost only two positions from the third starting place and finished fifth, for Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese stayed ahead of Norris, who in turn finished with Lewis Hamilton in his mirrors. The fastest Ferrari driver was eighth for teammate Charles Leclerc. Isack Hadjar took the last point for Racing Bulls.
Piastri after messing up quickly ready
Piastri immediately lost many places at the start, after he was already driving away with the last red lamp. The Australian was forced to put the brakes on the brakes, but thus crashed his start in such a way that he almost ended up at the back. A few turns further, Piastri sat on the outside on the dirt at the side of turning turn 5. There was no grip, so his McLaren shot the tire stacks straight.
The SafetyCar came on the track, which was the reason for the next damper for McLaren. Leclerc paid much better at the restart than Norris and pushed his Ferrari past it before the first corner. All this happened far behind Verstappen, who could do what he wanted to do in the front: his own race, with a tight pace.
After a busy opening phase, the driver shifted their focus a bit more to tire management. Verstappen walked further and further away from Sainz, although the pace that the Spaniard put on the asphalt was certainly not bad. Lawson started in third place to keep the group of cars behind him more and more, creating a margin for Sainz. That of course also applied to Verstappen.
Group Early Stoppers, Group Late stoppers
That margin paid off as soon as the strategic maps were put on the table. Antonelli dived in early and pulled Lawson and Leclerc with it. Sainz was able to wait a long time until he exchanged the hard tires, with Russell who left the same rubber who insisted more and more. The Williams driver made his stop and came back on the job for the early stoppers group.
Russell, however, drove on extremely long, with such a pace that he came out of the pits for Sainz and thus took the second place. Norris meanwhile, just like in Monza, had a bad stop, making him the group early stoppers every year. Tsunoda happened to almost the same, but only had to let Lawson go.
Verstappen, who had also started hard, was the last to make his pit stop in peace. There was no tension around the world champion. Further back Norris finally came into action. Benefitating from his new tires, the Brit worked along Leclerc and to seventh place.
Lawson appears to be difficult obstacle
Lawson then also turned out to be a tails for the group consisting of Tsunoda, Norris and eventually Hamilton. The New Zealander was already difficult to catch up with the entire race and he lasted that up to the finish. It caused a train of drivers who still wanted to win places, but did not succeed anymore. Lawson, for example, first boomed the opportunities on more of Leclerc, and then that of especially Tsunoda and Norris. It was a strong performance by the driver who fights to stay on the grid next year.
All of that happened far behind Verstappen, who was the first to cross the finish line, which converted his sixth pole position of the year into the fourth victory of the season. It was the 67 victory in the career of the Limburger.
The next Grand Prix will be in Singapore in two weeks.
Max Verstappen won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday. While the Red Bull Driver, Who Started from pole, Drove Unthealed to Victory, Both McLaren Drivers UnderPerformed. Lando Norris Didn’t Get Further Than Seventh Place. Oscar Piastri Crashed for the Second Day in A Row.
With Seven Grands Prix To Go in 2025, Verstappen Reduced His Still Colossal Deficit to Piastri with Two Wins in a row to 69 points.
For now, it was more important that norris didn’t really benefit from a weird series of Mistakes by World Cup Leader Piastri, who ended up in the tire stacks again on Sunday after a crash in qualifying. Norris Gained Six Points, Bringing the Gap to 25 points.
George Russell, Who was plagued by the flu all weekend, Drove to Second Place, referring Carlos Sainz, Who Surprisingly Started Second, Back to Third Place. That was by far the Williams Driver’s best result of the season. Sainz Did Manage to Stay Ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Neverberness, The Italian also had a strong race in the second Mercedes with fourth place.
Liam Lawson anyful Lost Only Two Positions from Third on the grid and finished fifth, Ahead of Verstappen’s Teammate Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese Driver Stayed Ahead of Norris, Who in Turn finished with Lewis Hamilton in His Mirrors. The Fastest Ferrari Driver Finished Eighth, Ahead of Teammate Charles Leclerc. Isack Hadjar took the last point for racing bulls.
Piastri Quickly Ready After A Messed Up Start
Piastri Imediately Lost Many Places at the Start After Driving Away With The Last Red Light Still On. The Australian was forced to slam on the brakes, but ruined his start so badly that he was almost at the back. A Few Corners Further On, Piastri was on the outside in the Dirt when Braking for Turn 5. There was no grip there, causing his mclaren to shoot straight into the tire stacks.
The Safety Car Came Onto The Track, which was the Reason for the Next Downer for McLaren. Leclerc Paid Much Better Attention than Norris at the Restart and Pushed His Ferrari Fits Before the First Corner. This all happened Far Behind Verstappen, Who Could do what he wanted at the front: Drive his own race, at a Tight Pace.
After a Busy Opening Phase, The Drivers Shifted Their Focus More to Tire Management. Verstappen Moved Further and Further Away from Sainz, Although the Pace That the Spaniard Laid on the Asphalt was Certainly Not Bad. Lawson, in Third Place, Begen to Hold Up the Group of Cars behind him More and More, Creating a Margin for Sainz. The same of course applied to Verstappen.
Group of Early Stoppers, Group of Late Stoppers
That margin paid off as the strategic cards were well on the table. Antonelli dived in Early, Taking Lawson and Leclerc with Him. Sainz Could Wait A Long Time Until He Switched to The Hard Tires, With Russell, Who had Left on That Same Rubber, Pressing More and More. The Williams Driver Made His Stop and Came Back Onto The Track Ahead of the Group of Early Stoppers.
However, Russell Drove on for an extremely long time, at such a pace that he came out of the pits in front of sainz and thus tok about second place. Norris, Meanwhile, had a bad stop like in Monza, Putting Him Behind the Group of Early Stoppers. Tsunoda Almost Experienced the Same Thing, but Only had to Let Lawson Go.
Verstappen, who had also started on hard tires himself, was Able to Make his Pit Stop Last in Peace. There was no tension around the world champion. Further Back, Norris Finally Took Action. Taking advantage of his new tires, The Brit Worked His way Fits Leclerc and Into Seventh Place.
Lawson proves to be a difficult obstacle
Lawson then also proved to be obstacle for the group consisting of tsunoda, norris and anyway also Hamilton. The New Zealander was Difficult to Overtake Throughhout The Race and He Continued to Do So Until the Finish. It created a train or drivers who wanted to win more places, but did not succeed. Lawson First Thwarted Leclerc’s Chances of More, and then Those of Tsunoda and Norris in particular. It was a strong performance from the driver who is fighting to stay on the grid next year.
That all happened Far Behind Verstappen, Who Crossed the Finish Line Untheateded in First Place, Converting His Sixth pole Position of the Year into his Fourth Victory of the Season. It was the 67th Victory in the Career of the Limburg Native.
The Next Grand Prix is in Singapore in Two Weeks.