Russell holds off Verstappen to win Azerbaijan GP, narrows gap to Antonelli
George Russell held off a late challenge from Max Verstappen to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday, securing his third victory of the Formula One season and reducing the deficit to Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli in the championship.
Russell converted pole position into a lights-to-flag victory but a pair of safety car periods compressed the field and transformed a controlled afternoon into a tense finish. Verstappen had started eighth and Isack Hadjar completed the podium for Red Bull after returning from a wrist injury that kept him out of the previous three races.
During the opening stages Russell rapidly built a sizeable advantage over McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Verstappen and Hadjar. That cushion evaporated on lap 31 of 51 when Williams driver Alex Albon crashed, bringing out the safety car and wiping out Russell's 11-second lead.
Almost immediately after the restart another incident occurred when Franco Colapinto locked up and collided with Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly; Gasly's car then collected reigning world champion Lando Norris and both were forced to retire. Norris was furious with the incident and called for Colapinto to be banned. Colapinto was handed a 10-second penalty, which will instead become a five-place grid penalty at the next race in Malaysia because he failed to finish.
When racing resumed Verstappen moved into second by passing Piastri at the first corner and stayed within striking distance until the chequered flag, finishing 0.196 seconds behind Russell. "We had a good race, a tricky first stint on the mediums (tyres) but we got a good restart," Verstappen said. "Then the final lap George lost boost and I got close, but it was not enough." Russell held on to record the eighth victory of his career and his first since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. "It's amazing to be back on the top step of the podium," Russell said. "Every race since the (summer) break I have gone from strength to strength and I feel more like myself again."
Kimi Antonelli, who leads the standings, recovered to fifth after starting 16th following a rare crash in Friday qualifying. Oscar Piastri, who had started third, locked up and ran into the escape area late in the race and finished 14th, allowing Hadjar to capitalise and take third. "It has been a very long six weeks since I injured myself," Hadjar said. "It was the right time to come back, I felt strong, I took it step by step to gain the confidence." Hadjar had also finished on the podium in Monaco.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari while Lewis Hamilton claimed sixth. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad was seventh after making contact with teammate Liam Lawson and sending the New Zealander into a spin; Esteban Ocon was eighth, ahead of Haas teammate Oliver Bearman, giving Haas a double points finish, and Williams' Carlos Sainz completed the top 10.
The result reduced Russell's deficit to Antonelli in the championship from 81 points to 66 after 15 races, and Colapinto's on-track 10-second penalty will be applied as a five-place grid drop at the next race in Malaysia because he failed to finish.