Charles Leclerc demands Ferrari fix issues as Max Verstappen capitalises in Baku

A wounded Charles Leclerc has demanded Ferrari eliminate their reliability woes to prevent this season’s Formula One battle from becoming a one-horse race.

Max Verstappen extended his championship lead by driving unopposed to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz failed to finish on a desperate afternoon for Ferrari in Baku.

Leclerc was bidding to avenge Ferrari’s flat-footed strategy in Monaco a fortnight ago which cost him victory at his home event.

But on lap 20 of 51, Leclerc’s engine expired and he retired from the lead. A power unit failure at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya last month means the Monegasque has now failed to finish in two of his last three appearances.

Leclerc led Verstappen by as many as 47 points after the third round in Australia – the scene of his last triumph – on April 10.

But, ahead of next weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – the ninth race of 22 this season – Leclerc trails the Dutchman by 34 points in the championship standings.

Sunday’s race could indeed prove pivotal in Verstappen’s quest to win back-to-back crowns.

Sergio Perez finished second to complete a Red Bull one-two and is now the closest challenger to Verstappen after he leapfrogged Leclerc in the standings.

The Mexican, who took a bonus point for the speediest lap, is 21 points adrift of his Red Bull team-mate.

George Russell claimed his third podium finish for Mercedes in third, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who complained of severe back pain in his jumpy Silver Arrows, took fourth.

“It hurts,” said Leclerc, 24. “We really need to look into that for it not to happen again.

“I can’t really find the right words to describe what has happened. It is