Oscar Piastri wins F1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix from second on the grid as McLaren transfer 20 factors away from Purple Bull.
Oscar Piastri has gained the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and despatched McLaren to the highest of the constructors’ standings in a race that completed with a digital security automotive after a penultimate lap collision between Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Purple Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Ferrari’s pole-sitter Charles Leclerc, who was overtaken by Piastri on the twentieth of 51 laps after which battled nose-to-tail earlier than his tyres light, got here second with George Russell inheriting third for Mercedes after the Sainz-Perez collision.
Purple Bull’s Method One chief Max Verstappen completed fifth, simply behind his closest title rival Lando Norris, who began fifteenth for McLaren and ended up fourth with a bonus level for the quickest lap.
Triple champion Verstappen’s lead over Norris, who reeled in a 15-second hole and handed the Dutch driver on lap 49 due to his brisker tyres, was reduce from 62 factors to 59.
McLaren speeds previous Purple Bull
McLaren at the moment are 20 factors away from Purple Bull within the standings with seven rounds remaining.
“That was most likely essentially the most disturbing afternoon in my life,” stated Piastri, after absorbing relentless strain from Leclerc to take his second profession win. “It undoubtedly goes down as one of many higher races of my profession.”
The highest two had duelled for lap after lap, with the Ferrari driver making an attempt in useless to make use of the DRS drag discount to get previous Piastri till he light and fell into the clutches of Perez and Sainz.
Fernando Alonso was sixth for Aston Martin with the Williams group benefitting from the late crash to see Alex Albon end seventh with Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto following him house in eighth.
Hamilton recovers Mercedes from the pits
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was ninth for Mercedes, after beginning within the pit lane, and British rookie Oliver Bearman collected the ultimate level for Haas as a stand-in for suspended Kevin Magnussen.
Bearman has now scored factors for 2 totally different groups in his two races after making his race debut with Ferrari as a stand-in for appendicitis-stricken Sainz in March.
Perez tried and didn’t cross Leclerc for second place on the penultimate lap after which discovered himself fourth as Sainz seized the chance to go previous.
Because the Spaniard and Mexican battled for third at flip two, the automobiles collided and went into the wall.
“What occurred there?!?” exclaimed Sainz, with Perez asking the identical factor in additional vibrant language.
