Piastri wins as Norris closes in on Verstappen in Azerbaijanren's Triumph
Lando Norris delivered an exceptional performance, overtaking title rival Max Verstappen, while his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri claimed a thrilling victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Late-Race Drama
A collision between Red Bull's Sergio Pérez and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, while battling for third place with two laps remaining, effectively brought the race to an end under the safety car.
Piastri's Bold Move
Piastri executed a daring maneuver to overtake pole-sitter Charles Leclerc right after both drivers completed their sole pit stops for tires, maintaining the lead under immense pressure from Ferrari for the remainder of the race.
Norris' Comeback
Norris recovered from a delayed pit stop, starting on hard tires while the leaders opted for mediums, and overtook Verstappen with three laps to go. After Pérez and Sainz’s accidents, he moved up from sixth to fourth, finishing just ahead of Verstappen.
Impact on the Championship
The result saw Norris, who also claimed a point for the fastest lap, reduce Verstappen's championship lead by three points on a day when he was expected to drop down the standings. Norris is now 59 points behind Verstappen, with a maximum of 206 points still up for grabs across the remaining seven races. McLaren now holds a 20-point lead over Red Bull in the constructors' championship.
How Could Piastri Win?
Leclerc's Early Control
Leclerc converted his pole position into the race lead at the first corner and appeared to have the race under control in the opening stint. By the time Piastri pitted on lap 15, Leclerc had established a six-second advantage.
Ferrari's Struggles
Leclerc revealed that he had not completed any race simulations due to issues in Friday's practice sessions, and problems following his pit stop meant that he and Ferrari were not properly prepared for the hard tires.
Piastri's Critical Overtake
Piastri closed in on Leclerc’s Ferrari and seized the opportunity on fresh tires, making a brave late dive into Turn 1 on lap 20 to take the lead. "They had a low downforce setup, and we had a bit more downforce, but they were fast on the straights. We probably lost the race there," Leclerc admitted.
Leclerc's Response
Despite losing the lead, Leclerc wasn’t finished, staying close behind Piastri’s McLaren, with Pérez just behind, looking for a gap. The trio raced together for several laps, with Ferrari encouraging Leclerc over the radio.
Final Lap and Ferrari's Demise
On the final lap, Leclerc encountered rear tire issues and fell behind Piastri. The Australian secured victory, while Leclerc had to defend against Pérez and Sainz, who had been running alone for much of the race. With Piastri holding off Leclerc, the Ferrari pair caught up with the leaders in the closing stages.
Pérez and Sainz's Crash
The Climactic Incident
The dramatic conclusion came when Pérez launched an attack on Leclerc at the start of lap 50 with two laps remaining. Leclerc fended him off through the first corner, while Sainz managed to pass the Red Bull before the second.
Violent Crash
Pérez exited the corner strongly but collided with Leclerc's Ferrari on the following straight. The Red Bull's front wheel struck Sainz's rear wheel, causing both cars to spin violently into the wall, eliminating them from the race.
Russell's Rise to Third
The incident promoted George Russell’s Mercedes to third place. Russell, who had a quiet first stint, began to climb the order in the second stint, overtaking Verstappen and Norris to move into fifth before the crashes involving Sainz and Pérez.