Verstappen wins Azerbaijan GP as Ferrari suffer double blow

BAKU : Max Verstappen extended his championship lead by racing to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and capitalising on a desperate day for Ferrari. Sergio Perez took second to complete a commanding one-two finish for Red Bull after both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failed to make it to the chequered flag with mechanical gremlins in Baku.

Verstappen’s title advantage over Leclerc has increased from nine points to 34 following what could prove a pivotal race in this season’s championship battle. Perez 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 team-mate.

George Russell finished behind the Red Bulls to claim his third podium in Mercedes colours, while team-mate 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 Perez on the short stampede to the opening corner. Perez 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 following a hydraulic failure. The virtual safety car was deployed, and in came Leclerc for a change of rubber. He was stationary for five seconds with the front jack jammed underneath his car.

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