Mercedes’ George Russell holds off a late challenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to win an Azerbaijan Grand Prix enlivened by two late safety car periods.
Image source, Getty ImagesMercedes’ George Russell held off a late challenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to win an Azerbaijan Grand Prix enlivened late on by two safety car periods.
Russell dominated the first part of the race while Verstappen was climbing up from eighth place on the grid before becoming stuck behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
But two safety cars in quick succession put the Red Bull on Russell’s tail for an 11-lap chase to the flag.
Russell could never break free of Verstappen but the four-time world champion was not quite able to get close enough to try an overtaking move.
After an issue with energy deployment, Russell was scared Verstappen would pass him on the run to the line, but held on to win by 0.1 seconds.
Russell’s win, coupled with team-mate Kimi Antonelli recovering from 16th to fifth, narrows the Italian’s advantage over the Briton in the championship to 66 points.
The key stories of an initially soporific and then dramatic and tense grand prix were:
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Russell’s accomplished drive to his first win since the Austrian Grand Prix in June
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Verstappen’s superb fightback from a difficult qualifying
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Mid-race chaos with a first safety car triggering a second almost immediately, as so often happens
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McLaren’s race unravelling after a promising start
Image source, Getty ImagesRelated topics
Mercedes’ George Russell holds off a late challenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to win an Azerbaijan Grand Prix enlivened by two late safety car periods.
