George Russell wins chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix to cut Antonelli's title lead
George Russell led from pole to beat Max Verstappen by 0.196 seconds in a chaotic Saturday Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, cutting Kimi Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points.
George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday, beating Max Verstappen by less than two-tenths of a second in a chaotic 51-lap race at the Baku City Circuit.
The Mercedes driver led from pole and survived two safety-car periods to claim his third victory of the season and his first in Baku, crossing the line just 0.196 seconds ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar finished third to complete the team’s first double podium since 2024, with Charles Leclerc fourth for Ferrari.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli produced the drive of the day, recovering from 16th on the grid — after hitting the wall in Friday qualifying — to finish fifth. Russell’s win cuts the Italian teenager’s lead in the drivers’ standings to 66 points.
Six drivers failed to finish, including McLaren’s Lando Norris, who was taken out when Alpine’s Franco Colapinto locked up and collided with team-mate Pierre Gasly and the Briton. Lewis Hamilton finished sixth for Ferrari.
Russell, who also won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix in June, has now won three of the season’s races.
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