McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured a stunning victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, crossing the finish line under a virtual safety car after a dramatic late-race collision between Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
The two collided while battling fiercely for third place, taking both drivers out of contention and allowing the young Australian to cruise to his second Formula 1 victory. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who started from pole position, finished second, unable to match Piastri’s pace over the race distance.
READ MORE: Sainz and Perez CRASH in horror final lap wreck in Baku
Mercedes’ George Russell completed the podium in third, benefiting from the crash ahead of him and delivering a solid performance. The final laps of the race were marked by intense battles and rising tensions as Perez, desperate to grab a podium spot, put immense pressure on Sainz.
As they fought for position, their cars made contact, sending both into the barriers and prompting the virtual safety car to be deployed. The incident handed Piastri a calm and uncontested finish, as he had already pulled away comfortably from Leclerc and Russell.
Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen finished in fifth place, missing out on a podium and valuable points. Verstappen struggled with pace throughout the race and was unable to make significant progress.
Just ahead of him, McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered a stellar drive, starting from 15th on the grid and fighting his way up to finish fourth. Norris also earned the bonus point for the fastest lap, further boosting McLaren’s incredible weekend. The race’s outcome had significant implications for the constructors’ championship, as McLaren overtook Red Bull to take the lead.
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