Azerbaijan GP: Teams Reflect on a Thrilling Race Day

Azerbaijan GP: What the Teams Had to Say

As the dust settles on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, teams and drivers reflect on a day filled with strategic maneuvers, safety cars, and a few dramatic turns.

Mercedes

George Russell showcased a masterclass in control, leading from the pole and managing to fend off a late charge from Red Bull's Max Verstappen, despite losing his Boost on the last lap. Kimi Antonelli, after a less-than-ideal start, climbed back into the points, finishing fifth.

**George Russell, 1st:**

"It was an incredible weekend, one of my strongest. The race was intense, especially with Max right behind me after the Safety Cars. It was all about staying focused and not making mistakes."

**Kimi Antonelli, 5th:**

"Today was about damage limitation. I stayed out of trouble and took the points. Not everything went my way, but P5 was a good recovery."

Red Bull

Max Verstappen, with a fresh power unit, climbed to second, challenging Russell for the win but ultimately falling short. Isack Hadjar, returning from injury, secured his second podium of the season.

**Max Verstappen, 2nd:**

"We had a strong race and managed to push hard, especially in the last laps. It was great to have both cars on the podium."

**Isack Hadjar, 3rd:**

"It was a demanding track for a return, but everything clicked. Battling with Max was fun, and a double podium is fantastic for the team."

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc started strong but couldn't match the pace of the Red Bulls, finishing fourth. Lewis Hamilton struggled with straight-line speed, coming in sixth after a spirited battle with Norris.

**Lewis Hamilton, 6th:**

"We struggled with tyre performance which affected our pace. We'll analyze the data and aim to improve for Sepang."

**Charles Leclerc, 4th:**

"We maximized our result today, but lacked pace compared to our main rivals. We'll stay focused and push harder in Malaysia."

McLaren

Oscar Piastri's promising start was undone by a lock-up, relegating him to 13th. Lando Norris' race ended in a collision, marking a tough weekend for McLaren.

**Lando Norris, DNF:**

"Ending the race being taken out was frustrating. Despite the struggles, there are positives to take forward."

**Oscar Piastri, 13th:**

"We had podium pace, but the lock-up cost us. Still, I've learned a lot this weekend."

Racing Bulls

Arvid Lindblad's late surge secured points for Racing Bulls, while Liam Lawson was less fortunate after their restart collision.

**Arvid Lindblad, 7th:**

"Apologies to Liam for the incident, but it was a good race overall. Happy to score points."

**Liam Lawson, 12th:**

"Not my best race, but glad we got some points. We'll work on our pace for the next race."

Haas

Both Haas cars finished in the points, a rare feat for the midfield team, thanks to strategic calls and a bit of luck.

**Oliver Bearman, 9th:**

"Scoring with both cars is rewarding. It was chaotic, but we held on."

**Esteban Ocon, 8th:**

"A hard-fought P8. We were moving forward all race, and it’s a positive result for the team."

Alpine

A disastrous restart saw both Alpine cars retire after an internal collision, nullifying what could have been a strong points haul.

**Pierre Gasly, DNF:**

"Gutted for the team. The car felt good up to the incident. We’ll regroup and aim to bounce back."

Williams

Carlos Sainz salvaged a point after a strategic gamble, while Alex Albon's race ended with a crash.

**Carlos Sainz, 10th:**

"Happy to score a point after the penalty. The upgrades show promise, and we’ll aim higher in Malaysia."

**Alex Albon, DNF:**

"A strange crash, but the update is promising. We’re getting into the midfield fight."

Audi

Nico Hulkenberg came close to points but fell short, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished outside the points with a penalty.

**Nico Hulkenberg, 11th:**

"Points were close, but we lacked straight-line speed. We’ll analyze and improve for Sepang."

Cadillac

Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas had contrasting races, with Perez finishing and Bottas crashing late.

**Sergio Perez, 14th:**

"A strong weekend, but we lack pace. We’ll keep pushing for better results."

Aston Martin

A double DNF for Aston Martin, with mechanical issues ending their drivers' races prematurely.

**Fernando Alonso, DNF:**

"We knew it would be tough, and it was. We'll aim for a better weekend in Malaysia."

Pirelli

Pirelli noted low degradation and effective performance from the Soft and Medium compounds, allowing drivers to push hard throughout the race.

Overall, the Azerbaijan GP was a blend of skill, strategy, and a touch of luck, setting the stage for an exciting run to Malaysia.