Baku – Verstappen and Red Bull as bosses, total fiasco for Ferrari

Ecstasy at Red Bull, the drama at Ferrari. Max Verstappen returned to winning ways in Baku and won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Dutchman won ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez, who could not resist the reigning world champion.

In addition to the double, Red Bull achieved a perfect operation since both Ferraris retired. Carlos Sainz left the race in the first laps due to a hydraulic problem. Charles Leclerc saw his engine go up in smoke while he was leading the Grand Prix, halfway through the race. George Russell finished on the podium once again, his third this season.

On the French side, excellent race Pierre Gasly who came 5th. The pilot Alpha Tauri signs its best result of the year. Esteban Ocon pocketed the last point awarded, in 10th place.

Pérez takes the best at the start

Even before the start of the Grand Prix, Nicholas latifi is penalized. One of the mechanics of the Williams touched the car within 15 seconds before the start, which is prohibited. After the lights went out, Sergio Pérez dived inside the first corner and overtook Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver locks his tires and concedes the position.

Behind, the peloton is rather clean and calm, no accidents to note on the first lap. The Red Bulls are setting a big pace, so much so that Verstappen threatens Charles Leclerc's 2nd place. First drama on lap 9: Carlos Sainz stops in the escape route of turn 4! The Spaniard, victim of a hydraulic problem, was forced to abandon. The Virtual Safety Car is deployed: Leclerc benefits from it, just like the two drivers Mercedes, Pierre Gasly and Sebastian Vettel.

LAP 9 / 51

📻 “Something has failed” Sainz reports

The Spaniard has run off at Turn 4 and is out of the race 😫#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/9bjGGd2Xr8

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022

Other pilots, like the duo Alpine, don't stop. Vettel quickly came back to Ocon, but the French car's impressive top speed did not allow him to overtake him. The German even made a mistake while trying to overtake the Norman on the outside at turn 3 but braked too late and went through the loophole. He lost several places and left 12th. On the 15th lap, Verstappen came back on Pérez and overtook him at the end of the start-finish straight. Without resisting, the recent winner of the Monaco Grand Prix concedes his place as leader.

Engine failure for Leclerc, the chalice to the dregs for Ferrari

The race took another turn on lap 20: Charles Leclerc, who had just regained control after Verstappen stopped a lap earlier, saw his engine go up in smoke! The Ferrari's power unit failed on the long straight, the Monegasque stopped in the pits. Huge blow for Leclerc, who has to retire for the second time in 2 races.

Charles Leclerc's turn to retire while leading the Grand Prix! Catastrophic Sunday for Ferrari ❌❌#AzerbaijanGP🇦🇿 | ▶️ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/F3CXlddrHF

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) June 12, 2022

The two Red Bulls are therefore in the lead and with a large lead over an opportunistic George Russell. Behind, Lando Norris try the overcut on Fernando Alonso, without success. Pierre Gasly continues his march forward and passes Daniel Ricciardo, which was on an offbeat strategy. 

Ferrari engines suffered in Baku: Guanyu-Zhou on'Alfa Romeo and Kevin Magnussen on Haas are both victims of mechanical problems. The Dane's car, stopped on the inside of turn 15, was poorly placed and required the intervention of the virtual safety car.

Red Bull without competition, the two Mercedes in the top 4

The VSC benefits Ocon and Ricciardo, who had extended their stint on the hard tires. On the 37th lap, the two AlphaTauri are very well placed, with Gasly 4th and tsunoda 6th. But the Japanese broke his rear wing and was shown the black and orange flag. Driver no. 22 must return to the pits to repair… the old-fashioned way: the AlphaTauri mechanics use tape to solidify the AT03's wing.

In the last ten rounds, the ranking stabilizes. Lewis Hamilton, who complained of back pain due to the tailgating of the Mercedes, still managed to overtake Gasly for 4th place. On the side of McLaren, Norris pushed behind Ricciardo for 8th place, but the Woking team decided to freeze the positions.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull therefore won as bosses in Baku, far ahead of the two Mercedes who achieved an excellent result despite aerodynamic problems. George Russell is once again in the top 5 and signs a 3rd podium, ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

In the championship, the Batavian extends his advantage, now 21 points ahead of Pérez, the new runner-up. Leclerc is relegated to 34 points. With 5th place, Gasly moved up to 10th place in the championship, just behind his compatriot Esteban Ocon (10th).

VICTORY of Max Verstappen at the#AzerbaijanGP ! 🏆🇦🇿

Double for the Red Bulls in Baku who benefit from the double abandonment of the Ferraris ❌👀

▶ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/rEe98z029w

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) June 12, 2022

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