Russell fends off Verstappen to win Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Antonelli fifth

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept 26 : George Russell closed the gap to championship-leading Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli at the top of the Formula One standings after fending off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to complete a lights-to-flag win in ‌Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the Italian fifth.

Russell took the flag just 0.196 seconds ahead of the flying Dutchman, who had started eighth but crossed the line nearly side-by-side with his Mercedes rival, after two safety car phases turned a Saturday cruise into a fight for survival for the Briton.

Frenchman Isack Hadjar completed a double podium for Red Bull, repaying the team’s decision to give him a contract extension with third on his return to racing action.

“It’s amazing to be back on the top step of the podium,” said Russell, after closing the gap to Antonelli from 81 to 66 points in the overall standings with ⁠15 races completed.

“Every race since the (summer) break I have gone from strength to strength and I feel more like myself again.”

RUSSELL'S FIRST WIN SINCE JUNE

Antonelli had started 16th after a rare error saw him crash out of Friday’s qualifying.

His drive on Saturday was less like his Monza charge – where he went from 19th to first – and more a slow-burn recovery.

Saturday’s win was the eighth of Russell’s career, his third of the season and first since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.

It capped a dominant weekend for the Briton and had seemed a mere formality, with the 28-year-old leading off the line and opening up a comfortable lead ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Verstappen and Hadjar.

But all that changed on the 31st of the race’s 51 laps when a crash for Williams racer Alex Albon brought out the safety car.

Russell’s 11-second lead evaporated as the safety car