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Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc

Oscar Piastri claimed victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a fierce battle with Charles Leclerc at the Baku City Circuit.

Por: Rubén Carrillo
Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1
Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1

The McLaren driver held a defensive position for much of the race, fending off numerous attempts by Leclerc to overtake.

 

The race concluded under safety car conditions after Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez collided while battling for the final podium spot. 

 

This incident allowed Mercedes’ George Russell to take third place ahead of championship contenders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

 

At the start, Leclerc maintained the lead, while Piastri consolidated second place. The Red Bulls of Pérez and Verstappen both gained one position, moving into third and fifth respectively. 

 

However, Verstappen struggled throughout the race, continuously complaining about his car’s performance.

Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1
Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1

On lap 8, Norris, who had started from 15th following a difficult qualifying session, managed to re-enter the points positions after overtaking Haas debutant Oliver Bearman for 10th place. Shortly after, the first front-runners pitted, with Verstappen and Russell switching to Hard tires on lap 13, followed by Hamilton, who was recovering from a pit lane start.

 

Sergio Pérez pitted a lap after his teammate, coming out in third place with hard tires. McLaren opted to keep Piastri on track, despite the risk of an undercut, and instructed Norris to hold up Pérez in the middle sector. 

 

This strategy paid off, as Piastri maintained second place after his stop, with Leclerc, the race leader, pitting shortly after.

 

Piastri’s earlier stop allowed him to close in on Leclerc, and on lap 20, he made a move on the inside of Turn 1 to take the lead. Leclerc stayed close behind Piastri for several laps, and at the start of lap 29, he increased the pressure into Turn 1, but Piastri managed to defend.

Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1
Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1

Leclerc continued his pursuit as the race entered the final 10 laps. With Pérez close behind, Sainz joined the fight as the race neared its end. 

 

On lap 47, Leclerc’s tires degraded significantly, allowing Piastri to extend his lead while Leclerc came under attack from Pérez and Sainz.

 

With two laps remaining, Pérez and Sainz collided while battling for the final podium position, triggering a virtual safety car and promoting Russell to third place. 

 

Norris made a late-race pass on title rival Verstappen, while Fernando Alonso secured his best finish since Canada in sixth place.

Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1
Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1

Williams had a strong weekend, with Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto finishing seventh and eighth respectively, with the latter scoring his first F1 points. 

 

Lewis Hamilton finished ninth, and Bearman claimed a single point for Haas in his debut race.

 

Oscar Piastri, the young Australian driver, has quickly made a name for himself in Formula 1. After dominating in junior categories, winning the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2021, Piastri was highly sought after by top F1 teams. 

 

His rise to prominence reflects his exceptional talent, calm demeanor, and ability to handle pressure. Joining McLaren as a full-time driver, Piastri has shown rapid progress, competing fiercely against experienced rivals like Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.

Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1
Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan GP after showdown with Leclerc / Photo via F1

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