The 2024 Azerbaijan GP was SPECTACULAR: Oscar Piastri wins after an epic battle with Leclerc, Russell finishes third. DISASTER for Sainz and Perez.
Incredible scenes in Baku! The 2024 Azerbaijan GP ended dramatically with Oscar Piastri taking the win after a heart-pounding race, just ahead of an equally brilliant Charles Leclerc. George Russell rounded out the podium, with Lando Norris fourth and Max Verstappen fifth. Completing the points were Alonso, Albon, Colapinto, Hamilton, and Oliver Bearman, who scored with Haas.
The start and first lap were fortunately smooth, with Leclerc leading ahead of Oscar Piastri and especially Sergio Perez, who overtook Carlos Sainz after a poor start from the Spaniard in his Ferrari. A similar scenario played out for Max Verstappen, who quickly passed George Russell. Lando Norris also got a strong start, moving up four positions from fifteenth. Unfortunately, Lance Stroll suffered a puncture after contact with Yuki Tsunoda’s Racing Bull on the opening lap.

The first pit stops were initiated by Max Verstappen and the Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton, with the latter starting from the pit lane due to an engine change. The following lap saw Perez pit, but the Mexican rejoined behind Norris (who had yet to stop), losing valuable time. McLaren managed to avoid the undercut attempt by Red Bull, with Piastri emerging just ahead of Perez upon exiting the pit lane. Ferrari’s Leclerc responded, but despite building a 6-second lead during a brilliant stint on medium tires, a slow Ferrari pit stop saw him rejoin just ahead of the Papaya driver.
Lap 19 saw the lead change, as Piastri, hot on Leclerc’s heels, made a stunning move into Turn 1. It marked the beginning of an intense duel, with Leclerc glued to Piastri’s rear and Perez closely following the Monegasque. The trio was locked in a fierce chase, with all three cars separated by just over a second, setting the stage for a thrilling fight. Lap 33 provided a huge chance for Leclerc, but Piastri defended brilliantly. The Ferrari was faster, but the McLaren held firm, with Piastri delivering a flawless performance. Meanwhile, on lap 34, Russell overtook a struggling Max Verstappen, who was battling brake issues and difficulty with his RB20.
The race continued with Piastri heroically maintaining his lead without a single mistake, securing the GP victory. However, in a dramatic twist during the penultimate lap, Perez launched an attack on Leclerc at Turn 1, with Leclerc defending and inadvertently allowing Sainz to close in. But after Turn 2, Sainz made contact with Perez on the straight, resulting in a disastrous crash, taking both drivers out. Leclerc, who had fought closely for over 20 laps, fell back in the final stages due to tire degradation. The constructors’ standings saw significant changes, with McLaren taking the lead, while Red Bull lost ground to Ferrari.
Photo: McLaren, Scuderia Ferrari HP