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Sports26 September, 20262 min read

George Russell Wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Holding Off Max Verstappen

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George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for Mercedes, holding off Verstappen at Baku. Max Verstappen finished second; Isack Hadjar completed the podium.

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George Russell Wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Holding Off Max Verstappen
Image: صحيفة الوطن

Russell wins in Baku

George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, taking his third Formula 1 victory of the season after crossing the finish line ahead of Max Verstappen. Russell held off a late challenge from Red Bull's Max Verstappen to win an Azerbaijan Grand Prix enlivened late on by two safety car periods. The BBC said Russell won by just under 0.2 seconds, and Verstappen lamented defeat by 0.196 seconds over Russell.

Anadolu Ajansı said Russell clinched the Azerbaijan Grand Prix title on Saturday, the 15th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, and it placed Verstappen second and Isack Hadjar third. Russell cut the championship lead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli to 66 points, after Russell dominated the first part of the race while Verstappen climbed up from eighth place on the grid.

Image from @globaltimesnews
Image: @globaltimesnews
Reporting for this sectionBBCAl-Sharqiyah Riyadah

Safety car chaos

The BBC said two safety cars in quick succession put the Red Bull on Russell's tail for an 11-lap chase to the flag, and it described Russell as unable to break free of Verstappen.

Autosport’s live text quoted Russell saying, "when the yellow flag came out, I lifted off the power, and when I came back had no turbo, then I had no turbo, and Max nearly got me at the line."

Image from Al-Sharqiyah Riyadah
Image: Al-Sharqiyah Riyadah

Verstappen was not quite able to get close enough to try an overtaking move, and Russell was scared Verstappen would pass him on the run to the line after an issue with energy deployment.

Formula 1’s recap said a yellow flag on the final lap for Valtteri Bottas’s stricken car at Turn 15 meant Russell backed off and lost crucial power from his turbo.

Grande Prêmio quoted Verstappen saying, "In the last lap, with the yellow flag, George lost some power after exiting a corner, which is why I got a little closer. I was near the finish, but it wasn't enough," as Verstappen started eighth and finished second.

Reporting for this sectionAutosportGrande Prêmio

Title fight and next race

The BBC said Russell’s victory meant he cut the championship lead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli to 66 points, and it described Hadjar taking the final podium position on his return after missing three races with a broken wrist. Russell reduced the gap to his teammate Charles Leclerc from 81 points to 66 points with eight races left in the season, and Russell placed ahead of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Diario de Mallorca said Russell’s triumph, third for the Brit in the current season, reduced the gaps to his teammate Kimi Antonelli, who finished fifth and remained at the top of the standings with a 66-point lead.

Fana News said Russell won after he led the race with a time of 1:38:02.143 hours, finishing 0.196 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen and 10.704 seconds ahead of Isaac Khem Harjar in third. Formula 1 returns to action next weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix, and the 16th event of the season will be held at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia.

Reporting for this sectionFana NewsGrande Prêmio