George Russell delivered a masterclass in defensive driving to win the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit on Sunday. The Mercedes driver held off a relentless Max Verstappen across 51 laps, in a race punctuated by two safety car periods.
Russell seized the lead early and never looked back, but Verstappen kept the pressure on throughout. The first safety car, triggered by an incident involving Alpine's Pierre Gasly, bunched the field and set up a tense restart. Russell nailed the restart, while Verstappen had to settle for second, unable to find a way past.
A second safety car late in the race added another layer of strategy, but Russell remained ice-cool to take the chequered flag. Red Bull's young charger Isack Hadjar completed the podium in third, delivering a standout performance.
Charles Leclerc was the best of the rest in fourth for Ferrari, while Mercedes' rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed with fifth. Lewis Hamilton finished sixth, just behind his former teammate, as Ferrari struggled to match the pace of the leaders.
The race saw several high-profile retirements. McLaren's Lando Norris was among those who failed to finish, along with Williams' Alex Albon and the Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. The attrition rate was high, but the frontrunners kept their noses clean.
With this victory, Russell strengthens his championship credentials, while Verstappen remains hot on his heels. Hadjar's podium signals his arrival as a force to be reckoned with, and the battle for the title is heating up.
The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be remembered for its drama and intensity. Two safety cars reshuffled the deck, but Russell and Mercedes proved to be the class of the field in Baku.
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