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via PlanetF1BREAKINGGeorge Russell wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix after late chargeGeorge Russell secured victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, holding off a late challenge from Max Verstappen. The Mercedes driver converted his pole position into a win, finishing just a tenth of a second ahead of Verstappen.
via Motorsport.comF1's top 10 closest finishes after George Russell holds off Max Verstappen's late Baku challengeFor those watching the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, many would agree that George Russell delivered a dominant drive to take a lights-to-flag Formula 1 victory from Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Yet dominance isn't a word often used when the margin of victory is as small as the gap separating the duo when the chequered flag flew at the end of 51 laps of the Baku City Circuit, four-time champion ... Keep reading
via Motorsport.comJacques Villeneuve defends Red Bull team orders call at F1 Azerbaijan GPJacques Villeneuve has publicly defended Red Bull Racing's decision not to swap drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite Hadjar having a tyre advantage, the team opted to keep Verstappen in front, a choice Villeneuve praised as the right strategy, allowing Verstappen to challenge for the lead.
Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that they considered various scenarios regarding team orders but ultimately decided to maintain their positions. He noted that both drivers executed their roles well, and the strategy aimed to maximise their chances against competitors like Oscar Piastri and George Russell.
via f1oversteer.comJacques Villeneuve criticises Oscar Piastri's errorJacques Villeneuve has labelled Oscar Piastri's double lock-up during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'rookie mistake'. The incident caused Piastri to drop to the back of the field in Baku.
via f1oversteer.comJolyon Palmer mocks Isack Hadjar for being ‘the best guy in the world’ vs Max Verstappen in BakuDuring the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Jolyon Palmer mocked Isack Hadjar for being overly compliant with Max Verstappen, suggesting he should have fought harder for position. Both Red Bull drivers ended up on the podium, marking their first joint podium since the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, with Hadjar praised for his pace after returning from injury.
Palmer highlighted Hadjar's reluctance to challenge Verstappen during the race, questioning whether the Red Bull team was hesitant to ask Verstappen to concede his position. Despite Palmer's criticism, both drivers performed well, with Verstappen narrowly missing out on victory after two safety car periods.
via Motorsport.comFranco Colapinto apologises for Azerbaijan GP crashFranco Colapinto has expressed regret after a crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that eliminated both his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris. Colapinto described the incident as a 'big mistake' and acknowledged the significant impact it had on their races.
via RacingNews365Verstappen falls short in Azerbaijan Grand PrixMax Verstappen finished just 0.196 seconds behind George Russell in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, admitting he was 'trying everything' to secure victory. Despite his efforts, Verstappen's pursuit of a win in 2026 continues as he remains without a race victory this season.
via Motorsport.comLando Norris calls for ban for Franco ColapintoLando Norris has demanded a race ban for Franco Colapinto following a collision that eliminated both him and Pierre Gasly during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Colapinto has since apologised for what he described as a 'big mistake'.
via f1oversteer.comLewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen agree about Ferrari after frustrating Azerbaijan Grand PrixLewis Hamilton expressed frustration after finishing sixth in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking his sixth consecutive race without a podium. He struggled with car balance and straight-line speed, voicing concerns about Ferrari's performance and power relative to other teams. Hamilton's complaints included issues with understeer and battery deployment, which he felt hindered his race.
Max Verstappen echoed Hamilton's sentiments, highlighting Ferrari's weaknesses on the straights. Despite Hamilton's struggles, he remains in third place in the championship standings, aided by Lando Norris' retirement. Meanwhile, Ferrari managed to maintain their position ahead of McLaren in the constructors' standings, despite a challenging race.
via RacingNews365Isack Hadjar wrist left 'numb' after podium heroicsIsack Hadjar made a successful return from injury by finishing third in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking his first podium earned on pure pace. After missing several races due to a wrist injury, he gradually built his speed throughout practice and qualified fourth before racing to the podium.
Hadjar expressed his joy at the achievement, stating that it felt like a proper podium after a challenging six weeks. He noted that his wrist held up well during the race and is looking forward to the upcoming busy schedule in the 2026 season.
via RaceFansNorris calls for race ban for Colapinto after Baku crashLando Norris has called for a race ban for Franco Colapinto following a crash during the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix that ended both their races. Norris described Colapinto's actions as 'careless' and expressed dissatisfaction with the 10-second penalty handed to the Alpine driver.
via gpfans.comF1 star OUT of Azerbaijan Grand Prix as safety car deployedAlex Albon crashed his Williams car into the Tecpro barriers during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading to the deployment of the safety car. The incident occurred on lap 31, resulting in three drivers not finishing the race.
Following the crash, Albon reassured fans that he was unharmed. The safety car allowed several drivers to pit, taking advantage of the situation to save time during the race.
via RaceFans2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix results from BakuThe 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix took place at the Baku City Circuit, showcasing a competitive race among the Formula 1 teams. Detailed results and highlights from the event have been compiled.
via Motorsport.comAlex Albon and Carlos Sainz reveal F1 boys' trip plansAlex Albon and Carlos Sainz have announced plans for a boys' trip in Asia, taking advantage of the schedule between the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix. They mentioned that several Formula 1 drivers will join them, and Albon expressed excitement about the trip during an interview ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The trip comes as Sainz faces a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow under yellow flag conditions, starting the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 14th position. Both drivers are currently positioned low in the championship standings, with Sainz in 16th and Albon in 17th.
via f1oversteer.comOscar Piastri admits what McLaren did to his car in Baku is ‘never a great sign’Oscar Piastri achieved his best qualifying result of the 2026 season by securing P3 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite facing challenges throughout the weekend. He noted that McLaren had to use cable ties to hold his car together after experiencing issues with loose bargeboards, which he described as 'never a great sign.'
Piastri's performance improved significantly during qualifying after the team removed fuel from his car, allowing him to feel the full benefit of recent upgrades. However, reliability problems plagued McLaren during practice sessions, affecting both Piastri and teammate Lando Norris. Piastri aims to maintain his podium position in the race, although he acknowledges that George Russell and Mercedes are likely to be strong competitors.
via f1oversteer.comTimo Glock saw Laurent Mekies’ real feelings after ‘frustrated’ Max Verstappen rued Red Bull issueMax Verstappen expressed frustration after a battery issue hindered his qualifying performance at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leaving him in P8 on the grid. Despite showing strong pace in practice and Q1, the problem arose during Q3, significantly impacting his speed and lap time.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that the battery issue ruined Verstappen's chances for a better starting position. Timo Glock observed Mekies' tense demeanor while discussing the situation, raising concerns about potential challenges for Verstappen in the race following a promising start to the weekend.
via Motorsport.comVerstappen says Baku was Red Bull's best chance to winMax Verstappen believes that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was Red Bull Racing's best opportunity to secure a victory in the 2026 Formula 1 season. He attributed his poor starting position to an issue with the internal combustion engine.
via newsonf1.comHadjar admits he deliberately held back in BakuIsack Hadjar revealed that he intentionally held back during the Baku qualifying session, prioritising his recovery from a wrist injury. Despite this, he managed to secure a P4 position, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who encountered technical issues. Hadjar expressed that while the result was encouraging, it did not reflect his full potential as he aimed to avoid any mistakes that could jeopardise his recovery.
In his comments, Hadjar acknowledged that he felt Verstappen had outperformed him throughout the weekend. He noted that his absence from the previous races hindered his ability to compete for a front-row position. Hadjar reported that his wrist was coping well, and he completed extensive simulator laps to prepare for the race, indicating his confidence in fighting for a strong position if he starts from fourth.
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen expects grid penalty after Baku issuesMax Verstappen has confirmed that he will likely face a grid penalty later this season due to an issue with his power unit during qualifying in Baku. The Red Bull driver stated that while he can replace the damaged engine without an immediate penalty, a grid drop is inevitable.
via Motorsport.comOscar Piastri: I need a tow bar to hook onto Mercedes to fight for Baku winOscar Piastri qualified third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but he expressed doubts about his ability to compete with George Russell of Mercedes, who was significantly faster. Piastri's qualifying time was just 0.001 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, but he lagged 0.838 seconds behind Russell, prompting him to jokingly suggest he needed a tow bar to keep up.
Despite a challenging weekend for McLaren, including a brake issue that required unconventional fixes, Piastri was pleased with his qualifying result. He acknowledged that while Mercedes appeared to have a clear advantage, he believed McLaren could still contend with the other teams in the race, especially with Lando Norris starting fifth.Page 1 of 50













