Azerbaijan Grand Prix Review

Winner

George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Full classification

What happened

A street circuit that so often rewards simple survival delivered again, as George Russell won a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix defined by two Safety Car periods that saw seven drivers fail to reach the chequered flag. The Mercedes driver converted his pole position into a win, but only after holding off a charging Max Verstappen by less than two-tenths of a second in a frantic final-lap dash. On his return from injury, Isack Hadjar secured a surprise third-place for Red Bull, marking the team's first double podium since the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix.

A Race of Attrition

Baku's reputation for drama was on full display, with nearly a third of the field retiring. The first casualties were the Aston Martin pair; Lance Stroll was forced out with a water pressure issue on lap seven, while Fernando Alonso retired on lap 20 complaining of a significant loss of power on the long straights. The race's complexion changed entirely on lap 30 when Williams' Alexander Albon locked up and ended his day in the barriers at Turn 5, triggering the first Safety Car. According to Albon's post-race comments, a strong gust of wind caught him out under braking. This neutralisation bunched the field and prompted a flurry of pit stops, erasing the comfortable 10-second lead Russell had built.

The restart on lap 36 brought even more chaos. As Verstappen finally passed Oscar Piastri for second, a multi-car pile-up unfolded behind them at Turn 1. Reports indicate that Alpine's Franco Colapinto locked up and collided with his teammate Pierre Gasly, whose car was then sent into the McLaren of Lando Norris. All three drivers were out on the spot, triggering a second Safety Car and setting up the final sprint to the finish.

Strategy and a Surprise Podium

The timing of the Safety Cars proved decisive. While most of the leaders pitted under the first yellow, the second incident immediately after the restart left no room for further strategic gambles. For some, like Carlos Sainz who had pitted just before Albon's crash, the timing was particularly punishing. For others, it was a lifeline. Isack Hadjar, who missed the previous three races with a wrist injury, drove a measured race and capitalised on the chaos. His pressure on Oscar Piastri following the second restart contributed to the McLaren driver locking up and spinning at Turn 1, dropping Piastri from a potential podium finish to an eventual 13th place and elevating Hadjar to third.

The race was also a story of recovery. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who started 16th after damaging his suspension in qualifying, navigated the incidents to climb to an impressive fifth-place finish. His drive, along with strong performances from Arvid Lindblad in seventh and Esteban Ocon in eighth, showed that avoiding Baku's walls is often half the battle.

From a spectator's perspective, the incidents highlight the unique challenge of the Baku City Circuit. The long straights tempt teams into low-downforce setups, but the tight, unforgiving corners in the old city section leave no margin for error—a conflict that regularly produces drama. If you're considering a trip, grandstands overlooking Turn 1, like the Absheron Grandstand, offer a prime view of the most frequent point of action, as demonstrated by the race-altering restart collision.

Ultimately, while Russell celebrated a hard-earned victory, the final drama wasn't quite over. A late yellow flag for Valtteri Bottas's crash nearly cost Russell the win on the final run to the line, as lifting for the flags momentarily disrupted his power delivery. It was a fittingly tense end to a race that once again proved Baku's status as one of the most unpredictable events on the calendar. The question for next year remains the same: can anyone ever truly tame this circuit, or is chaos simply part of its DNA?

Full Classification

1. George Russell (Finished)
2. Max Verstappen (Finished)
3. Isack Hadjar (Finished)
4. Charles Leclerc (Finished)
5. Kimi Antonelli (Finished)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Finished)
7. Arvid Lindblad (Finished)
8. Esteban Ocon (Finished)
9. Oliver Bearman (Finished)
10. Carlos Sainz (Finished)
11. Nico Hülkenberg (Finished)
12. Liam Lawson (Finished)
13. Oscar Piastri (Finished)
14. Sergio Pérez (Finished)
15. Gabriel Bortoleto (Finished)
16. Valtteri Bottas (Retired)
17. Franco Colapinto (Retired)
18. Pierre Gasly (Retired)
19. Lando Norris (Retired)
20. Alexander Albon (Retired)
21. Fernando Alonso (Retired)
22. Lance Stroll (Retired)