Formula 1 returns: 5 talking points ahead of the daunting Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Formula 1 returns this weekend after a one month break.

Here is a look at five talking points ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix:

Red Bull winging it

Three races, three poles, three wins, two 1-2s, two fastest laps - Red Bull arrive in Azerbaijan on a magical roll.

Double world champion Max Verstappen kept his cool in Melbourne to fend off Lewis Hamilton and steer clear of the triple red-flag drama, while Sergio Perez sliced through the field from last to claim fifth, and the fastest lap, in the latest display of the Red Bulls' speed supremacy over the rest of the grid.

Team boss Christian Horner praised Verstappen's "great patience" in not getting embroiled in a Mercedes' dog fight at the start, and was nonplussed at Mercedes' pace.

With two wins to his teammate's one Verstappen leads Perez by 15 points, the rejuvenated Fernando Alonso is third, nine points behind the Mexican for Aston Martin, with Hamilton seven points further back approaching the fourth race of the season.

Mercedes revival?

Toto Wolff and his Mercedes men left the Australian Grand Prix with an unexpected spring in their step.

Lewis Hamilton's second place gave the fallen F1 giants reason to believe they are finally getting to grips with their mercurial car. With only one win after a chastening 2022, this season began in Bahrain with "one of their wort days in racing".

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An uptick in performance in Saudi Arabia offered encouragement, while in Melbourne George Russell was also flying until his car caught fire. Team principal Wolff was quick to insist there was "no magic bullet" to transform a car that has struggled since last year's shift in the technical