11 things you need to know from a bonkers Azerbaijan Grand Prix
It was another crazy race from Baku - here's how it played out
For the second year in succession, Baku delivered a bonkers Grand Prix that was packed with action - and threw up a shock podium trio after drama in the final stages of the race.
Sebastian Vettel looked to have this victory sewn up, but he ended up finishing down in fourth as Lewis Hamilton took something of a shock victory.
Here’s how they finished - and how it all played out…
1. The Red Bull crash - the moment the race turned on its head
The key moment in this race for all sorts of reasons was the collision between the two Red Bull cars.
Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen had been battling right throughout the race, with Ricciardo trying several times to get past Verstappen, only for the Dutchman to defend hard.
On lap 35, Ricciardo finally got the job done with a great move. He pitted on lap 38 for new tyres, but when Verstappen pitted one lap later, he somehow emerged from the pit lane in front of Ricciardo.
It meant an exasperated Ricciardo had to try to get past Verstappen all over again. And it was on lap 40, when he made his move, that it all went wrong.
He got a good run on his young team-mate, who seemed to weave in defence. Ricciardo ran out of room, locked up a tyre and slammed into the back of Verstappen, taking them both out of the race.
The debate continues to rage as to who was more to blame - what do you think?
As well as ruining Red Bull’s day, it also triggered another safety car - which gave us a thrilling finish to the race…
2. Lewis takes his chance
Lewis Hamilton lost out on victory in the season opener in Melbourne after a late safety car saw Sebastian Vettel snatch the win from him.
Today was almost the reverse scenario. Once the safety car came out on lap 40, the leaders all pitted, and Valtteri Bottas emerged in the lead, ahead of previous leader Vettel.
Unwilling to take that lying down, Vettel tried to re-take the lead on the re-start after the safety car and threw a move down the inside of Bottas.
But he locked up, ran wide, and was immediately lost out to Bottas, Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.
But this incredible race wasn’t over yet, as new race leader Bottas then ran over some debris on the track and picked up a puncture with just two laps to go, putting him out of the race.
That left Hamilton - who had been unhappy with his tyres all race - to swoop in and take a win that had looked so unlikely all day.
He seemed slightly uneasy at having taken the victory - his first of the season - but it does mean he now leads the championship for the first time this year.
3. Vettel lost - but should be applauded for going for it
Spare a thought for Vettel though, who could have followed Bottas home to claim second place and a hefty chunk of points to keep his championship lead, but instead went for the win.
Yes, he lost out in the end, but we want our drivers fighting tooth and nail for victory and he should be applauded for it.
4. Poor old Bottas
Leading the race with just two laps to go and losing through no fault of your own? That’s tough to take for anyone. But Bottas drove faultlessly today and would have had the victory but for that small piece of carbon fibre that gave him the puncture.
5. Perez's podium
Among all the carnage of the final laps of this race, Sergio Perez navigated it all to come in third and seal another hugely impressive podium finish.
It’s a huge tonic for Force India who have had a tricky start to the year - and it makes Perez a double podium finisher at Baku.
6. RoGro No Go (again)
One reason the safety car was out for so long at the end of the race was because Romain Grosjean managed to crash while the cars were following it. While weaving to warm his tyres he lost control and hit the wall.
It capped a miserable weekend for the Haas driver who failed to even get a lap done in qualifying after his gearbox failed.
7. Leclerc shows his class
A hell of a lot was expected of Charles Leclerc when he graduated to F1 after his dominant season in F2 last year.
And today he showed what all the hype was about, overtaking cars including a Williams and the McLaren of Fernando Alonso, to eventually finish sixth. In a Sauber.
His first points of the season and a superb result for the Ferrari young driver who is surely on track for a drive with the Scuderia if he keeps this up.
8. Williams get off the mark at last
It’s been a disastrous (and pointless) start to the season for Williams as they wrestle with their new car.
But they were more on the pace this weekend, getting both cars into Q2 and then today Lance Stroll finished eighth to seal their first points of the season.
A long way to go, but the Grove team will be hoping they’ve finally turned the corner.
9. McLaren get away with it again
Despite being publicly unhappy with their new car, calling emergency crisis meetings about their lack of pace and even removing their head of chassis Tim Goss from his position, McLaren somehow keep hoovering up points.
This weekend it looked like that run would finally end as Stoffel Vandoorne and Fernando Alonso were trailing around outside the top ten.
But then cars began falling out of the race and the papaya pilots ended up coming home seventh (Alonso) and ninth (Vandoorne).
But can they keep bringing home the points when they are so far off the pace in qualifying? Plenty of work to do for the McLaren team.
10. Hartley makes his point
It was a difficult weekend for Brendon Hartley. He got a puncture in qualifying and then nearly caused his Toro Rosso team-mate Pierre Gasly to have a horrific crash.
But he bounced back on Sunday to come home tenth and score his first ever F1 point.
11. Baku is bonkers!
All the talk about how to make Formula 1 exciting again - and the answer has been staring us in the face the whole time: simply hold every Grand Prix in Baku.
That’s two years in a row this street track has given us the most exciting, unpredictable race of the season.
As Eddie Jordan said afterwards: “It’s the number one track in the world in terms of giving value for money.”
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What did I miss? What did you notice from the race? Let us know in the comments...
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Comments (23)
Could we start a Verstappen bingo? Who's race will he torpedo next time?
Well technically ricciardo torpedo'd him
I guess all the other drivers in the past races torpedo'd him too. Or they were otherwise in the way.
That aside, with a sudden zero downforce Ric was supposed to do what? Hit the "Verstappen weaving in front" button so the car can throw out an...
Read moreThere’s a debate on who to blame for the RB crash?? Seriously?
Dont forget the renaults who had an awesome battle witt the redbulls. That 2v2 was amazing
LeClerc finishing 6th surely gives Ericsson no leg to stand on anymore. For ages I have not rated him good enough to be in F1. This must be the end of the line for him. He has never impressed, not even in bonkers races where places could be made up. Unless I’m missing a race somewhere?
well bahrain was pretty descent, but i agree it is a shame that he is in f1 and giovinazzi isn't.
Two things I didn't even get to mention: 1) the chaos on the first lap, Kimi/Ocon, safety car etc, and the Renaults