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Max Verstappen Scores Fifth Place in Azerbaijan GP After Late Crash
Baku, Azerbaijan — A dramatic late crash involving Sergio Pérez of Red Bull and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari has handed Max Verstappen a fifth-place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit on Sunday. The reigning Formula One champion, who was seventh before the incident, capitalized on the chaos to secure a crucial point in the tightly contested championship race.
Verstappen, 26, started the race in sixth position, while his closest title rival, Lando Norris of McLaren, began from 17th place. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured pole position. Despite a promising start that saw Verstappen move up a spot on the first corner, he struggled with his Red Bull car’s performance throughout the race.
By the 11th lap, Verstappen was expressing concerns over the lack of traction, telling his team there was zero bite in the car. His first pit stop came on the 13th lap, where the team switched him from medium to hard tires. However, the car’s issues persisted, with brake problems causing him to lose pace and fall behind George Russell in the 34th lap.
Norris, who was ten seconds behind Verstappen after his pit stop, caught and overtook the Dutch-Belgian driver in the 48th lap, dropping him to seventh position. But luck was on Verstappen’s side when a thrilling three-way battle for the lead ended in disaster. Sainz and Pérez’s Red Bull collided with the wall, eliminating both from the race and allowing Verstappen to move up to fifth place.
The race was won by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, marking the British team’s first lead in the constructor’s championship this season. McLaren now has 476 points, ahead of Red Bull with 456 points.
Despite the challenges, Verstappen maintains a 59-point lead over Norris in the driver’s championship. While it appears increasingly unlikely that Red Bull will retain the title this season, Verstappen continues to fight for the top spot.
This report encapsulates the key details of the race, focusing on the performance and fortune of Max Verstappen, and provides context for his position in the overall championship.
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