Formula 1: Verstappen stays in title hunt with commanding Azerbaijan GP victory

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen produced a commanding drive at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, leading every lap from pole position to secure a comfortable victory at the Baku City Circuit.

The Dutchman crossed the line in 1:33:26.408, more than 14 seconds clear of Mercedes’ George Russell in second, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz completed the podium, said ANI’s report.The result marked Verstappen’s second straight win, following his triumph at Monza earlier this month, and put him back in contention for the championship, albeit still 69 points adrift of leader Oscar Piastri.

McLaren endured its toughest weekend of the season. Championship leader Piastri suffered a nightmare start, stalling off the grid before crashing into the barriers at Turn 5 on the opening lap.

It was his second crash in as many days after hitting the wall in qualifying, and the Australian left Baku empty-handed for the first time since May 2024.His teammate Lando Norris couldn’t fully capitalize either. Despite Piastri’s exit, Norris managed only seventh place, losing valuable time in a slow pit stop: McLaren’s second consecutive botched stop, and spending the closing stages stuck behind Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull.

The Briton did, however, trim Piastri’s title lead from 31 points to 25.McLaren had the chance to seal the constructors’ championship in Baku with seven races to spare but will now have to wait until Singapore.

Behind the podium trio, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli came agonisingly close to his first F1 rostrum but had to settle for fourth after failing to pass Sainz late in the race. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson claimed a career-best fifth place, ahead of teammate Yuki Tsunoda in sixth.Further back, Ferrari’s struggles continued as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could only manage eighth and ninth. Isack Hadjar rounded out the points in tenth for Racing Bulls.

Verstappen’s lights-to-flag victory has reignited slim hopes of a fifth consecutive drivers’ crown. But the real storyline in Baku was McLaren’s missed opportunity. Piastri’s rare mistake and Norris’ frustrations leave the title race alive heading into Singapore, where McLaren will look to regain momentum and finally close out the constructors’ battle.