F1: Piastri wins in Baku as McLaren take over at the top
Al Jazeera
Oscar Piastri wins F1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix from second on the grid as McLaren move 20 points clear of Red Bull.
Oscar Piastri has won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and sent McLaren to the top of the constructors’ standings in a race that finished with a virtual safety car after a penultimate lap collision between Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Ferrari’s pole-sitter Charles Leclerc, who was overtaken by Piastri on the 20th of 51 laps and then battled nose-to-tail before his tyres faded, came second with George Russell inheriting third for Mercedes after the Sainz-Perez collision.
Red Bull’s Formula One leader Max Verstappen finished fifth, just behind his closest title rival Lando Norris, who started 15th for McLaren and ended up fourth with a bonus point for the fastest lap.
Triple champion Verstappen’s lead over Norris, who reeled in a 15-second gap and passed the Dutch driver on lap 49 thanks to his fresher tyres, was cut from 62 points to 59.
McLaren are now 20 points clear of Red Bull in the standings with seven rounds remaining.
