F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Piastri wins amid drama as Sainz crashes into Pérez – as it happened | Formula One

Aha! Giles Richards’ report is with us, which means we’re done here. Thanks all for your company – we’ll see you again next week for Singapore – which should be another belter. But until then, peace and love.

The last time McLaren led the constructor championship was in 2014. But they’re right there now, and that doesn’t just augur well for what’s left of this season but for next too.

It doesn’t look like the Red Bull has it in it to win any more races; the question is how well Verstappen can shepherd it to score points, and whether Norris can drive well enough to win them or get close. My sense is not, but you never know…

So where is the season going from here?

At Spurs, they’ve just kicked off.

I’ll see it here and now, though of course I’m not the first or the 569,423th: Oscar Piastri will win a driver championship, probably more than one.

Piastri raises the trophy, dons his winner’s medal, and here comes the bubbly.

The three podium lads watch the Sainz/Perez clash, ooohing and aahing; I think Perez was the unluckier of the two, but I’d need to see it again. Anyway, here come our top three and here comes Advance Australia Fair.

1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 313

2. Norris (McLaren) 253

3. Leclerc (Ferrari) 235

4. Piastri (McLaren) 222

5. Hamilton (Mercedes) 166

6. Russell (Mercedes) 143

7. Perez (Eed Bull) 143

Piastri felt like he had a bit of extra grip so he had to go at Leclerc when he did, giving it a “pretty good lunge,” before “hanging on for dear life”. All in all, he considers this one of the best races of his career. He gives full credit to the team, who were in last place a year again, and now they lead the constructor championship, Piastri the highest points-scorer over the last seven races.

Leclerc said the hard tyres made it difficult for him. McLaren were good here, so he congratulates them, but given when happened to Sainz on the final lap, it’s been a bad weekend for Ferrari.

Russell says he’s surprised to make the podium and is glad Sainz and Perez are OK. He’s had issues this weekend but at its best his car did well.

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

3. George Russell (Mercedes)

4. Lando Norris (McLaren)

5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

6. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

7. Alex Albon (Williams)

8. Franco Colapinto (Williams)

9. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

11. Nico Hülkengerg (Haas)

12. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

13. Daniel Ricciardo (RB)

14. Zhou Guanyu (Stake F1)

15. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

16. Valtteri Bottas (Stake F1)

DNF: Yuki Tsunoda (RB), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari), Sergio Pérez (Red Bull).

I said this during the race, but it’s a long time since we’ve seen such a long and intense battle for the lead. Burt it never really looked like Piastri could be passed, just that little bit too quick and savvy for Leclerc – who again fails to convert a pole on this track.

Also going on:

“The most stressful day of my life,” Piastri tells his team as he thanks them; to watch the serene way in which he drove you’d never know it. He’s a potential superstar.

Lando Norris finishes fourth, taking McLaren to the top of the constructor’s championship and Verstappen fifth, his lead at the top of the driver standings cut a little – we’ll confirm by how much once we’re sure the Brit recorded the fastest lap.

A phenomenal statement of a drive and the second win of his career; Charles Leclerc of Ferrari takes second and George Russell of Mercedes third.

Lap 51/51 It took a while, but we’ve got our virtual safety car. Meantime, Piastri cruises on at the front – he is no longer an up-and-comer, he’s right here.

Lap 50/51 They’re flying at the front but here comes Perez to go at Leclerc and gets by on the outside … but the Frenchman he comes back and shuts the door! Oh and look at this! Sainz also passes Perez, the two Ferraris working together, but as they come around the corner, Sainz and Perez bash wings, the former clattering the latter I think, into the side they go, and both cars are out of the race! What drama!

Lap 49/51 Norris is now within a second of Verstappen while, at the front, Piastri looks hame; instead, we’ve got Leclerc trying to hang on to second, and Perez, challenging him, also trying to hold on to third under pressure from Sainz. Oh and have a look! Here comes Nozza, attacking Verstappen, he slides by and also has the fastest lap in his skyrocket. He’s going to close the gap at the top, having started 15th on the gird and, given how yesterday went, he’ll be delighted

Lap 48/51 Perez hacks at Leclerc, tries to diddle him on the outside and can’t, but in front, Piastri now leads by 2.480. He’s going to win!

Lap 47/51 Stroll, who sustained an early puncture, has to retire, while Piastri drives a superb lap to break Leclerc’s DSRS and Perez gains on him. The gap is now 1.759s and might this be the definitive circuit of the race?!

Lap 46/51 Sainz is now 1.199s behind Perez, and just as there’s a battle going on for first and second, so there is for third and fourth – which might burgeon into all four going for the win! This is the funnest race I’ve seen in tiiiime, Piastri leading it by 0.929 and Parez closer to Leclerc than Leclerc is to him.

Lap 45/51 Yet again, Piastri holds off Leclerc, and this could well be a statement victory. Norris, meanwhile, is now expected to reach Verstappen in four laps’ time; he sets a fastest lap, the gap 5.095, and will have be able to pass or will Verstappen’s wiles hold him off?

Lap 44/51 The focus it must take for Piastri to maintain so narrow a lead for so long, biggup. The gap is 0.578s.

1. Piastri

2. Leclerc

3. Perez

4. Sainz

5. Russell

6. Verstappen

7. Norris

8. Alonso

9. Albon

10. Hulkeberg

11. Colapinto

12. Hamilton

13. Bearman

14. Gasly

15. Ricciardo

16. Ocon

17. Stroll

18. Bottas

19. Zhou

Lap 43/51 Sainz is also closing on Perez, which won’t do his teammate Leclerc any harm, giving the Mexican something to think about beyond catching up. With nine laps to go, this race remains in the balance.

Lap 42/51 Norris will be within striking distance of Verstappen within eight laps; if so’, he’ll have four chances to pass and close the gap in the driver championship. Likewise Leclerc, who trails Piastri by 0.819 and behind him, Perez comes again!

Lap 41/51 I’m not sure what can change for Leclerc between now ands the flag – which won’t make any odds to Hamilton, who eases by Bearman for a second tie. Ten laps to go.

Lap 40/51 Norris sets a fastest lap, closing the gap on Verstappen to 12.308s as Leclerc’s team chat about a two-stop strategy, perhaps looking to spook McLaren into pitting Piastri. But Sharl is closer as they hit the straight this time, gets into position … and again, the Aussie holds him off.

Lap 39/51 It’s a while since Leclerc even had a proper hack at Piastri, who’ll be starting to feel the pressure of leading; he’s now expected and expecting to win this race. The gap is 0.774s.

Lap 38/51 Sainz, fourth, closes on Perez, third; I don’t think the Mexican will be troubling second from here. Norris pits, coming out ahead of Alonso so into seventh, 15.454s behind Verstappen.

Lap 37/51 Piastri sets a fastest lap as the dummy call goes out that he should come in if Leclerc does but McLaren do nothing, their man 0.725s in front.

Lap 36/51 Here we go again, Leclerc unable to get close enough to Piastri to overtake – as we learn that, over the last four races, no one has scored more points than the surging Aussie – which sounds like a good name for a pub.

Lap 35/51 Piastri is advised his tyres look slightly worse than Leclerc’s at the front, slightly better at the back. I can’t remember the last time I watched a race like this, two drivers going at it lap after lap, as we learn that Albon, currently 11th, fancies eighth for himself, seventh if Verstappen comes in again.

1. Piastri

2. Leclerc

3. Perez

4. Sainz

5. Norris

6. Russell

7. Verstappen

8. Alonso

Lap 34/51 Verstappen tells his team he’s no grip – these terse missives are becoming something of a feature. He’s 1.595s behind Norris, who must still pit, while Perez, third, is now closer to Leclerc, fourth. And have a look! Russell passes Verstappen and, though Noz looks likely to finish behind him, his overall arrears look unlikely to change much.

Lap 33/51 Here comes Leclerc again and he’s almost into the back of Piastri, who picks a good line to stop the overtake. What a duel this is! And it’s nowhere near finished!

Lap 32/51 Albon pits meaning Norris is up to fifth and Verstappen sixth; they’ll want to go hard for the next bit to take advantage of the clearer road ahead.

Lap 31/51 Norris won’t want to pit now because if he does, he’ll emerge behind Hulkenberg in 11th, and the straight-line speed of the Haas might present a problem. Piastri still leads and, though he gets DRS, Leclerc can’t get quite close enough to properly try and pass.

Lap 30/51 Yup, Perez is now 1.361 behind Leclerc, who’s 0.612 behind Piastri. What a drive this is turning into – possibly a race we’ll look back in years to come as a turning point in the leader’s career.

Lap 29/51 Here comes Leclerc again, he’s closer this time … and Piastri holds him off! The young Aussie is driving beautifully here but he’ll have plenty more challenges to withstand as the race continues, the front two losing Perez a little.

1. Piastri

2. Leclerc

3. Perez

4. Sainz

5. Albon

6. Norris

7. Verstappen

8. Russell

Lap 28/51 Again, Leclerc can’t get close enough to Piastri to overtake – he’s so, so close. The lead is 0.496.

Lap 27/51 Albon’s doping a really good job of holding up Norris and Verstappen – and don’t forget the former is still to pit. A safety car-situation would work beautifully for McLaren now.

Lap 26/51 Piastri has won only one GP in his young career, in Hungary earlier this year. He leads by 0.560 now, as we learn that the Australian pushed too hard early doors, which is why he couldn’t make an impression on Leclerc, but is now driving his car as planned, hence his better performance.

Lap 25/51 Piastri sets a fastest lap as Leclerc gets close enough to get DRS but not close enough to attack. Verstappen, meanwhile, is getting frustrated by his inability to pass Norris.

1. Piastri

2. Leclerc

3. Perez

4. Sainz

5. Albon

6. Norris

7. Verstappen

Lap 24/51 Verstappen is right up Norris’ posterior – Norris, remember hasn’t yet pitted – but shuts the door! Back at the front, Piastri is doing a great job, extending his lead over Leclerc, who’ll feel this slipping away, to -.946s.

Lap 23/51 Leclerc goes at Piastri down the inside but can’t quite make it, the gap between them 0.799 and Perez a further 0.946 behind.

Lap 22/51 The first three cars are almost bumper to bumper! This is brilliant stuff, and what’s extra-brilliant is that Verstappen and Norris aren’t involved.

Lap 21/51 Leclerc goes again but Piastri is on one here – he’s seeing it and resists. The top three are separated by just 1.5s and this is an absolute trip! Norris sits fifth.

Lap 20/51 Now then! Piastri attacks on the inside and Leclerc can’t hold him off! What a move that is, he came from so far back! However! Here comes a second DRS zone, Leclerc attacks … and runs out of road, the corner forcing him to reset! That’s a fantastic piece of work from the Aussie, even if ole Sharl ought to have seen the challenge coming. He’ll come again, but must pay attention to Perez behnd him.

Lap 19/51 Perez attacks Albon down the straight and he could go down either side of him, the track so wide you know the pass is coming. Piastri, meantime, is going nicely, now just 0.929s behind Leclerc, back leading.

Lap 18/51 Sainz pits so Leclerc leads once more, Perez setting a new fastest lap. Piastri, now back second, will be glad of Albon behind him, slowing down the second Red Bull.

1. Leclerc

2. Piastri

3. Albon

4. Perez

5. Norris

6. Sainz

7. Verstappen

8. Russell

Lap 17/51 Now Leclerc pits and Sainz leads, but he’ll regain first position when the Ferrari pits; that’ll be the next time he goes past.

Lap 16/51 Piastri comes in and Perez, on new tyres, boosts past Norris … but Piastri comes out ahead of the Mexican thanks to the work of his teammate, who held things up just enough. Tsunoda, his car jiggered from that earlier collision, retires.

Lap 15/51 Piastri is now far enough ahead of Perez to come in and leave still in front, but he stays out another lap and that looks a bad call, the gap shrinking; Norris is aaked to hold Checo up without damaging his own prospects.

Lap 14/51 Leclerc now leads by 5.173s as Perez goes in and out, exiting the pits in sixth; Norris is now fifth, but of course will soon have to pit himself.

1. Leclerc

2. Piastri

3. Sainz

4. Albon

5. Norris

6. Perez

7. Hulkenberg

8. Bearman

9. Verstappen

10. Ricciardo

Lap 13/51 Verstappen, who’s just plugging away, has had enough of his tyres, coming in and leaving in 10th – more slowly than he’d have hoped – Russell immediately following him and Hamilton also stopping.