Highlights of Formula 1 in Baku: Rookie crash shortly before the end – Sport

Oscar Piastri

The season's rising star stumbled only once, but that was after the 51 laps in Baku, when he climbed into the cockpit of his papaya-colored car and had to fight for his balance. Otherwise, the 23-year-old Australian achieved his second F1 victory in a manner that can only be correctly described as: far too mature for his age. The McLaren driver, who was brought in to support Lando Norris, cleverly evaded team orders by driving for victory himself. The decisive maneuver in the 20th of the 51 laps, when he was able to leave leader Charles Leclerc behind with a spectacular braking maneuver, should not have taken place at all. Shortly beforehand, his race engineer Tom Stallard had told him: “Start easy on your tires.” But the driver preferred to trust his instincts: “I thought that if I didn't take this chance, I wouldn't get any more.” The risk was big, but I just had to do it. I’m sorry, Tom.”

Lando Norris

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First the low blow when he was eliminated in the first round of qualifying. Then the recovery from 15th place, crowned by an overtaking maneuver against the last-placed driver he wants to push from the top of the F1 table in the seven races of the season: In the third-to-last lap, Norris demoralized his opponent Max Verstappen, but in the end he was awarded the fastest lap and fourth place. Now he is 59 points behind with a total of 206 points up for grabs. Not easy if Norris continues to make mistakes like he did on Saturday. “We really couldn't have expected more.” “I would have been happy with eighth place,” admitted the 24-year-old after the 17th World Championship race. His points wins put McLaren back at the top of the constructors' championship for the first time in ten years. That strengthens the sense of community, as does a racing car about which the Briton says: “It flies!”

Charles Leclerc

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To calm himself down before the start, the Monegasque, who was on pole position in Azerbaijan for the fourth time in the series, listens to light music. Amazingly, this time he got going well on the short, dangerous stretch up to the first asphalt bend and defended the lead – which was also due to the technical upgrades on the Ferrari. But his pit strategy caused him to lose a valuable lead and then Oscar Piastri simply took him by surprise. After that, a fast one-hour chase raged, with the Ferrari's nose quickly stuck in the back of the McLaren. But it was never quite enough. But Leclerc is not upset about his offensive: “I should have defended better instead of relying on being able to overtake him later.” The way he attacked, I thought: He's crazy.”

Sergio Perez

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For the first time this season and for the first time in his 33rd attempt, the Mexican qualified better than world champion Verstappen, starting fourth. However, he was denied the happy ending of a podium finish, a position he had not been on since April. On the penultimate lap, he was close to knocking Leclerc off second place. Unfortunately, Carlos Sainz, the second Ferrari driver, also had his sights set on him. If the two of them race together on the straights, they will crash into each other. Perez stubbornly stayed in the middle, while Sainz kept moving to the left until they both ended up in the wall. A crash like that experienced by beginners, tended to be forced by the Spaniard Sainz. Race management did not want to assign any greater blame, and the investigation was discontinued. But there was still a row afterwards. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner complained that his team would now have to work for five days straight to even be able to get a new car on the road in Singapore.

Max Verstappen

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Red Bull Racing's social media department must have suspected something. Instead of the usual colorful pictures with the can in his hand, Verstappen was presented with a thoughtful expression before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Dutchman touching his head, his gaze staring into space – and the whole thing in black and white. This also made it easy to illustrate fifth place in Baku, half a minute behind his world championship chaser Norris. His car, which was largely difficult to control and which he had recently described as a “monster”, this time ran under the derogatory name of a “go-kart”. “It had no grip at all,” said Verstappen, “and in the corners one wheel was always in the air.” Racing team advisor Helmut Marko has already practically written off the constructors' title to Sky, and the individual championship is also in danger: “We urgently need to find speed.”

Franco Colapinto

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Who remembers Logan Sargeant? That was the American who was allowed to take F1 driving lessons for a year and a half at the request of the team sponsors. In a surprise move, Williams team boss James Vowles replaced the man from Florida with the 21-year-old rookie Franco Colapinto. The Argentinian did a good job on his debut in Monza, finishing twelfth. On the much more difficult Baku track, he initially produced a lot of rubbish, but pulled himself together again before qualifying: ninth place on the grid, well ahead of regular driver Alex Albon. Things went even better in the race, and the late crash by Perez and Sainz meant that Colapinto was able to take four World Championship points in eighth place. “I know that many people doubted the Williams decision to choose me,” said Colapinto: “I hope this proves to everyone that I deserve a place in F1.” He may have thus recommended himself for a cockpit at Audi.

Oliver Bearman

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There has never been a better racing substitute in three quarters of a century of F1. Oliver Bearman is the first driver in history to score points in his first two races for two different racing teams. The 19-year-old Briton stood in for Carlos Sainz in Jeddah in the spring after his appendix operation and came seventh straight away in the Ferrari. After that, the Ferrari customer team Haas promoted its test driver Bearman to regular driver for 2025. After the Dane Kevin Magnussen had to take a break in Baku because he had received too many penalty points, the young hopeful was sent back into the race. The crash in training was followed by an eleventh qualifying place; the newcomer was better than Nico Hülkenberg. And in the chaotic race finale he fought with record world champion Lewis Hamilton for a point position. Colleague Hülkenberg, who had already secured a point, was thrown back by a piece of debris, Bearman grabbed tenth place and the consolation point.