- McLaren’s Oscar Piastri wins the 2024 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- The win means McLaren now leads the Constructors’ Championship.
- Red Bull Racing’s reigning world champion Max Verstappen still leads the Drivers’ Championship
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri drove superbly on Sunday to claim victory in the 2024 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
It was the McLaren driver’s second career win and with the team’s points haul, it means McLaren has now overtaken Red Bull Racing to lead the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second in the race held in Azerbaijan Baku City Circuitwhile completing the top three was Mercedes-Benz AMG’s George Russell.
Initially, it looked like Red Bull’s Sergio Perez would overtake Leclerc in the closing stages and secure second place, but a accident with Carlos Sainz of Ferrari knocked out both drivers. The race was then stopped under the virtual safety car.
2024 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Photo via Ferrari
Leclerc started the race on pole, with Piastri joining him on the front row. Behind them were Sainz and Perez. Leclerc made a great start and controlled the race at the beginning. He made a pit stop on lap 16, but was soon passed by Piastri, who would lead for the rest of the race. Leclerc ended up chasing Piastri for the next 30 laps while trying to hold off Perez, who at the same time was holding off Sainz.
With Leclerc on old tyres, it looked like Perez would pass him on the penultimate lap to move into second, but a failed overtake at Turn 2 allowed Sainz to catch Perez. Sainz and Perez were side by side heading into Turn 3, with Sainz just slightly ahead. However, Sainz, in an attempt to get into Leclerc’s slipstream, then moved into Perez’s path and two hit a wallending the race for both.
This allowed Russell to move up and claim third place, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. Further back was reigning world champion and points leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who had another slow day, finishing fifth.
2024 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Photo via Mercedes-Benz
One of the highlights of the day was Williams rookie Franco Colapinto who scored his first points in just his second F1 race. He started the race in eighth place and finished in the same position. Colapinto replaced American driver Logan Sargeant at Williams in the previous round in Italy and will drive for Williams for the remainder of the season. Oliver Bearman, who replaced the banned Kevin Magnussen, also finished in a respectable 10th place. Bearman will also take Magnussen’s place at Haas next season.
After the weekend’s action, Verstappen leads the 2024 Drivers’ Championship with 313 points. Norris is second with 254 points and Leclerc is third with 235 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren now leads with 476 points. Red Bull leads with 456 and Ferrari is third with 425 points.
The next race on the calendar is the Singapore Grand Prix on September 22.
Below are the full results from the 2024 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix:
1) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +10.910 seconds
3) George Russell, Mercedes-Benz AMG +31.328 seconds
4) Lando Norris, McLaren +36.143 seconds
5) Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing +77.098 seconds
6) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +85.468 seconds
7) Alexander Albon, Williams +87.396 seconds
8) Franco Colapinto, Williams +89.541 seconds
9) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-Benz AMG +92.401 seconds
10) Oliver Bearman, Haas +93.127 seconds
11) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas +93.465 seconds
12) Pierre Gasly, Alpine +117.189 seconds
13) Daniel Ricciardo, RB +146.907 seconds
14) Zhou Guanyu, Sauber +148.841 seconds
15) Esteban Ocon, Alpine +1 lap
16) Valtteri Bottas, Sauber +1 lap
17) Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing – Abandonment
18) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari – DNF
19) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – Abandonment
NC) Yuki Tsunoda, RB – DNF
