Russell Triumphs in Baku: Key Moments from the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
George Russell claimed victory in Azerbaijan, narrowing the championship gap with teammate Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, Red Bull celebrated a double podium, and a chaotic Safety Car restart reshuffled the race order.
Baku's 10th anniversary on the F1 calendar was marked by a thrilling race that saw George Russell take a crucial victory, trimming the championship lead held by his Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli. The streets of Baku delivered excitement once again, with Russell dominating much of the race after securing pole position by a significant margin.
Russell's strong start held off a chasing pack initially led by Oscar Piastri, and the Brit extended his lead to over ten seconds until Alex Albon's crash brought out the Safety Car on Lap 31. This incident set the stage for a dramatic restart, where Max Verstappen seized the opportunity to overtake Piastri, setting up a tense final stint.
The duel between Russell and Verstappen was intense, with the two drivers rarely more than a second apart. A yellow flag on the last lap, caused by Valtteri Bottas's car halting at Turn 15, nearly cost Russell the win as he lost turbo power. However, he managed to fend off Verstappen by a mere tenth of a second, securing his first grand slam and third win of the season.
Red Bull's weekend was bittersweet. Verstappen, despite a challenging qualifying session that left him starting eighth, fought back to finish second. Isack Hadjar, returning from a wrist injury, completed the podium after a solid drive that saw him capitalize on Piastri's error at Turn 1.
The race wasn't without its chaos, particularly during the Safety Car restart. Franco Colapinto's lock-up led to a collision with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly, and the resulting pile-up also involved Lando Norris, forcing all three to retire. Meanwhile, Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad clipped teammate Liam Lawson, further stirring the pot of intra-team drama.
McLaren left Azerbaijan empty-handed, with Piastri's promising qualifying position and Norris's potential points squandered amid the mayhem. Piastri's own error at Turn 1 dropped him far down the order, while Norris's race ended prematurely due to the Alpine collision.
Despite the setbacks for some, Baku's tenth race was memorable, highlighting both the perils and the potential for intra-team rivalries. As Russell's victory reinvigorates the championship battle, the paddock now looks forward to the next round, hopeful for more of the same thrilling action.
Meanwhile, in Formula 2, the championship race intensified with Rafael Camara overtaking Nikola Tsolov in the standings after a weekend of twists and turns, including a penalty that altered the results of the second Feature Race. With just a few rounds remaining, the F2 title fight promises to be as gripping as ever.