Max Verstappen wins Azerbaijan F1 GP as Ferrari suffer double disaster

Max Verstappen extended his championship lead by racing to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Sergio Pérez took second to complete a commanding one-two finish for Red Bull after Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failed to make it to the chequered flag with mechanical gremlins on a desperate afternoon for Ferrari in Baku. Verstappen’s title advantage over Leclerc has increased from nine points to 34 after what could prove a pivotal race in this season’s championship battle.

Pérez is now the closest challenger to Verstappen after leapfrogging Leclerc in the standings. The Mexican, who took a bonus point for the fastest lap, is 21 points adrift of his Red Bull teammate. George Russell finished behind the Red Bulls to claim his third podium in Mercedes colours, while his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who complained of back pain during the race, was fourth.

Leclerc delivered an impressive lap in qualifying to put his Ferrari at the front of the field only to lose out to Pérez on the short stampede to the opening corner. Pérez soon moved two seconds clear of Leclerc, with Verstappen occupying the Monegasque’s mirrors. On lap nine, Sainz, who was in fourth place, parked his scarlet machine after a hydraulic failure.

The virtual safety car was deployed and in came Leclerc for a change of tyres. He was stationary for five seconds with the front jack jammed underneath his car. Despite the safety car, Pérez and Verstappen stayed out before the Red Bull drivers traded positions on lap 15.

Verstappen took the lead into the opening bend with Pérez offering little resistance. “No fighting,” was the order from the Red Bull pit wall in a clear sign that Verstappen is the team’s priority.

On lap 18, Verstappen stopped for new tyres,