Mercedes finally returned to winning ways, and George Russell seized the moment. At the Baku City Circuit, the British driver clinched the top step of the podium, proving this victory was no fluke. It felt especially sweet for Russell, who had been overshadowed by teammate Kimi Antonelli's stellar performances. Now, despite still trailing by 66 points in the standings, Russell's morale is surely soaring.
Only Max Verstappen could mount a serious challenge. Thanks to a couple of Safety Cars, the Red Bull driver nearly spoiled Mercedes' party. But when the checkered flag fell, Verstappen had to watch Russell celebrate. Still, there were positive signs for Red Bull: Hadjar's promising return suggests the Milton Keynes squad is on the right track to reclaim the top spot.
Over at Ferrari, the picture was far from rosy. The SF-26 of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton seemed to drown in Baku's asphalt, left behind by a power unit deficit. Even the ADUO-2 upgrade fitted to Leclerc's car couldn't mask the fundamental weaknesses. Baku laid bare all the issues of the SF-26 project: technical investments that missed the mark, while rivals kept developing. As a result, Ferrari's podium drought extended further.
To add fuel to the fire, speculation about Frederic Vasseur's future resurfaced. Christian Horner's name being linked with a return to the F1 paddock only heaps pressure on the Ferrari team principal's seat. The situation is further complicated by reports of a growing rift between Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton. Amid this storm, Ferrari must find solutions quickly before the 2026 season slips completely out of reach.
All the drama and in-depth analysis from the Azerbaijan GP will be dissected in the I Doppiati podcast episode 19, airing on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 21:30 CET. Hosted by Simone Peluso with Federico Albano, Gianluca Calvaresi, and Salvo Sardina, the podcast will delve into the strategies, performances, and paddock intrigue from Baku. Titled "Amaro del Capo," the episode can be streamed live on YouTube, with recordings available on Spotify and Apple Podcast.
For Formula 1 fans, this is a golden opportunity to dive deeper into what really happened behind the scenes. From Mercedes' resurgence to Ferrari's struggles and the hot speculation around Vasseur's seat, it's all on the table. Don't miss it!
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