Piastri edges out Leclerc for dramatic Azerbaijan GP win
BAKU, Azerbaijan — Oscar Piastri secured a stunning victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, narrowly defeating Charles Leclerc in a race that saw intense multi-car battles on the challenging streets of Baku. The dramatic race also included late crashes involving Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz.
Piastri initially trailed pole-sitter Leclerc but managed to overtake him shortly after the leaders’ sole pit stop. This set the stage for a tense, four-way contest for the top spot, with Perez and Sainz eventually joining the fray.
Ultimately, Piastri emerged victorious, expertly defending his lead on multiple occasions. He gained a crucial advantage as Leclerc’s tyres began to fade in the final laps, putting the Ferrari driver under pressure from Perez and Sainz.
In a dramatic turn of events on the penultimate lap, an attempted pass on Leclerc by Perez led to a collision with Sainz, sending both drivers into the concrete barriers between Turns 2 and 3. This incident brought out the Virtual Safety Car, ensuring a smooth finish for Piastri.
Reflecting on the victory, Piastri described it as “the most stressful afternoon of my life.” The win marks his second Grand Prix triumph and propels McLaren to the top of the constructors’ championship.
Behind Piastri and Leclerc, George Russell capitalized on the clash between Perez and Sainz to secure an unexpected podium finish for Mercedes. Lando Norris also delivered an impressive performance, advancing from P15 to pass title rival Max Verstappen for fourth place late in the race.
Fernando Alonso experienced a relatively uneventful race, finishing sixth in his Aston Martin thanks to the drama ahead of him. Williams’s Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto also capitalized on their strong qualifying to earn valuable points for the team.
Despite starting from the back of the grid due to engine issues, Lewis Hamilton ensured a double points finish for Mercedes. Haas stand-in Ollie Bearman impressed by finishing just ahead of his experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg.
Pierre Gasly rose from the rear of the field to take 12th place after being disqualified from qualifying. He was followed by RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu, and Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon, who recovered from power unit penalties.
Valtteri Bottas was the final finisher in the other Sauber, while Perez, Sainz, Lance Stroll, and Yuki Tsunoda ended the race on the sidelines. Stroll and Tsunoda clashed on the opening lap, causing a puncture for Stroll and damage to Tsunoda’s car.
The race in Baku will be remembered for its high drama and the strategic mastery of Piastri and McLaren, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
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