George Russell won the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in Baku. The Mercedes driver held off Max Verstappen, who finished second just 0.196 seconds behind, in a race disrupted by several safety car periods and culminating in a close duel. ( formula1.com )
Key takeaways
Starting from pole position, Russell initially built a lead and controlled the race. However, the end of the race changed dramatically after the safety car period: Verstappen closed the gap and then put pres on the Mercedes in the closing laps. The Dutchman tried to overtake on the long home straight but couldn’t get past. Russell thus secured his third victory of the 2026 season. ( formula1.com )
The facts
The Grand Prix was held on the 51-lap Baku street circuit. Russell finished in 1 hour, 38 minutes, 2.143 seconds. Verstappen crossed the line 0.196 seconds later. Isack Hadjar completed the podium for Red Bull, 10.704 seconds behind the winner. Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Kimi Antonelli fifth. ( formula1.com )
The race became more lively after an initial incident involving Alexander Albon, which brought out the safety car. At the restart, a collision between the Alpines of Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly also involved Lando Norris. These retirements reshuffled the standings: Oscar Piastri, who had been among the leaders for much of the race, also lost ground after a mistake and finished fourteenth. ( formula1.com )
Late in the race, another yellow flag situation briefly threatened the lead after Valtteri Bottas’s crash. Both leaders were nevertheless able to complete the final lap. Verstappen got back into Russell’s slipstream and drew alongside him on the straight, but the Briton held onto first place. ( formula1.com )
A victory snatched in the final meters
Russell converted his pole position into a victory despite a tense finish. Verstappen finished second, while Isack Hajjar’s podium finish gave Red Bull two drivers in the top three. For Mercedes, the result confirmed Russell’s ability to maintain his lead after restarts and defend it to the end. The official standings awarded 25 points to the winner and 18 to Verstappen. ( formula1.com )
Source: RTS Sport – Swiss Radio and Television
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