Mercedes driver George Russell secured a victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, fending off Red Bull rival Max Verstappen by a tenth of a second to trim teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead down to 66 points after a dramatic Baku race.
What began as a controlled weekend for the Briton transformed into a grandstand finish after late safety cars fractured the pack.
Russell topped Thursday practice, secured pole position, and controlled the opening stint before back-to-back safety car interventions upended the race order. When a mid-race safety car was triggered by Alex Albon hitting the wall, the restart immediately descended into chaos at Turn 1. An out-of-control Franco Colapinto wiped out Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly in a violent collision that also eliminated reigning world champion Lando Norris. The subsequent clean-up paved the way for a frantic 14-lap sprint to the checkered flag, capped off by Valtteri Bottas crashing out on the final lap.
George Russell Praises New Driving Style and Chases Championship Leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli
The triumph marks Russell’s first Grand Prix win since Austria in June and his third victory of the 2026 season. More importantly, it cuts teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead from 81 points down to 66. Antonelli endured a bruising weekend after crashing out in Q1, forcing him to start 16th on the grid, though the young Italian salvaged a fifth-place finish to limit the damage.
“It’s amazing to be back on the top step of the podium, I just want to say a big thanks to my team, because they continued to believe in me through tough moments, helped me come through it. I’m really proud to have had this weekend.”
George Russell, Mercedes driver
Reflecting on his mid-season turnaround, Russell credited a shift in his approach behind the wheel. Every race since the [summer] break I feel like I’ve gone from strength to strength,
he noted, adding that he feels more like himself again after adopting a new driving style.
Max Verstappen Charges Late While Isack Hadjar Claims Podium Return
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen pushed Russell to the absolute limit during the closing laps, finishing just a tenth of a second behind. Russell admitted that a late technical scare almost cost him the win when a yellow flag for Bottas’s crash forced him to lift off the throttle, causing his turbo to drop power just as Verstappen surged toward the line.
Behind the leading duo, Isack Hadjar finished a distant third to secure his second podium of the season. Hadjar’s result marked an impressive return to Formula 1 action for Red Bull after he missed the previous three rounds due to a wrist injury. Ferrari struggled for outright podium pace, watching Charles Leclerc slide from second on the grid to finish fourth ahead of the recovering Antonelli and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in sixth.
F1 Rookie Arvid Lindblad and Carlos Sainz Round Out the Points in Baku
Further down the points-paying positions, Formula 1 rookie Arvid Lindblad snatched seventh place in the closing moments from Esteban Ocon. Ocon crossed the line ahead of Haas teammate Ollie Bearman, whose seat remains under threat for the 2027 season. Carlos Sainz delivered a determined recovery drive from a five-place grid penalty, steering his upgraded Williams to claim the final point on offer in a grueling race that saw only 15 cars make it to the finish.
With eight scheduled rounds remaining in the 2026 world championship, Russell made his competitive ambitions crystal clear regarding his pursuit of Antonelli at the top of the standings.
“Win every race! That’s the game plan, My team mate’s had an incredible season, he’s been pretty flawless throughout, but now we’re getting to crunch time. I’m just going to focus on myself. If I continue delivering performances like I’ve done this weekend, no matter what happens towards the end of the season, I’ll be happy.”
George Russell, Mercedes driver
He remains determined to maximize his results in the final stages of the championship to ensure he finishes the year on a high note.