Formula 1’s 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Race Review
Oscar Piastri Score his Second Win of the Season
The streets of Baku once again delivered a dramatic and unpredictable race filled with twists, strategic gambles, and intense wheel-to-wheel battles. Oscar Piastri, the young McLaren sensation, emerged victorious in what was undoubtedly one of the most gripping races of the season, taking his second career win and establishing himself further as a rising star in Formula 1. The victory didn’t come easily, as Piastri had to fend off a late charge from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who continues to show flashes of brilliance despite Ferrari’s ongoing struggles to convert strong performances into consistent wins.
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Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying
In a highly competitive qualifying session for the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc secured pole position with a lap time 1:41.365, continuing his dominance on the Baku circuit. Oscar Piastri impressed by taking second with a time of 1:41.686, while Carlos Sainz secured third at 1:41.805, making it a strong showing for Ferrari. Sergio Perez and George Russell rounded out the top five. Max Verstappen struggled, finishing in sixth, while Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Franco Colapinto took an impressive ninth, with Alex Albon closing the top ten.
As a result, Lando Norris was eliminated in Q1, starting in 16th, while Esteban Ocon and Zhou Guanyu also struggled, finishing near the back of the grid.
The full list of times reflects a tight battle across the field, with notable stories emerging from the frontrunners and unexpected difficulties for other drivers. This setup promises a tense and exciting race on Sunday.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Race Day
Leclerc started the race on pole for the fourth time in Baku, continuing his impressive record on the street circuit. He got off the line cleanly, maintaining his lead into Turn 1, while Piastri, starting alongside him, slotted into second place. Behind them, Sergio Perez managed to jump Carlos Sainz for third, while Max Verstappen and George Russell engaged in their own early scrap for the position.
As the opening laps unfolded, Piastri stayed within DRS range of Leclerc, looking for opportunities to challenge the Ferrari driver down the long straights of Baku. The McLaren driver’s persistence paid off after the sole round of pit stops when he rejoined the track just ahead of Perez, putting himself in prime position to attack Leclerc for the lead.
On Lap 20, Piastri made a decisive move on Leclerc, diving into Turn 1 and taking the lead. The Ferrari driver, aware of the tight battle, reported over the radio that his rivals seemed to have more grip. Despite this, Leclerc held onto second and kept the pressure on Piastri, who had to defend his position for the remainder of the race.
Mid-Race Tensions and Strategy Calls
As the race progressed, a four-way battle for the win developed, with Leclerc, Piastri, Perez, and Sainz all within striking distance of each other. Perez and Sainz, running third and fourth, had been part of the front pack for most of the race, with Red Bull and Ferrari both keen to capitalize on any mistakes from McLaren and Ferrari’s leading cars.
While Piastri defended his lead from Leclerc, Perez was under increasing pressure from Sainz, who was eager to make a move for the final podium spot. The stage was set for a dramatic conclusion as the drivers approached the final 10 laps of the 51-lap race, with tire degradation becoming a significant factor.
Sensing an opportunity to overtake Leclerc for second, Perez went for an ambitious move on the penultimate lap, trying to pass the Ferrari driver into Turn 1. However, Leclerc defended aggressively, forcing Perez wide and into the clutches of Sainz. The two rivals went side-by-side into Turn 2, but disaster struck as they collided, sending both cars crashing into the barriers.
Late-Race Chaos and Piastri’s Victory
The crash between Perez and Sainz brought out a Virtual Safety Car (VSC), ending the race under caution and allowing Piastri to secure the win. While the VSC may have neutralized the closing laps, the McLaren driver’s performance throughout the race was exceptional. He kept a cool head under pressure and expertly controlled his tire wear, keeping Leclerc at bay even as his Ferrari rival’s tires began to fade in the closing laps.
Leclerc finished second, 10.91 seconds behind Piastri, while George Russell inherited the final podium spot after the dramatic exit of Perez and Sainz. Russell had been running a solid race in fifth, but the incident ahead of him elevated the Mercedes driver to third place, giving the team a valuable podium finish after a challenging weekend.
Lando Norris, who started 15th on the grid, completed an impressive recovery drive to finish fourth, passing Verstappen late in the race. Verstappen struggled with balance issues throughout the race and could only manage fifth, marking a rare off-day for the reigning world champion.
Midfield and Points Finishers
Behind the top five, Fernando Alonso had a quiet afternoon in sixth, benefiting from the chaos ahead to bring home solid points for Aston Martin. Williams had a strong showing, with Alex Albon finishing seventh and Franco Colapinto scoring points in eighth – an impressive result for the team as they continue to build momentum.
Lewis Hamilton made a valiant recovery from the back of the grid to finish ninth, giving Mercedes a double points finish. Haas stand-in Ollie Bearman rounded out the top 10, finishing just ahead of teammate Nico Hulkenberg. Pierre Gasly, disqualified from qualifying, fought his way back to 12th, while Daniel Ricciardo and Zhou Guanyu completed the classified finishers.
2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Final Results
| RANK | DRIVER | COUNTRY | TEAM | FASTEST LAP |
| 1 | OSCAR PIASTRI | AUSTRALIA | MCLAREN | |
| 2 | CHARLES LECLERC | MONACO | FERRARI | |
| 3 | GEORGE RUSSEL | BRITAIN | MERCEDES | |
| 4 | LANDO NORRIS | BRITAIN | MCLAREN | 1:45.255 |
| 5 | MAX VERSTAPPEN | NETHERLANDS | RED BULL | |
| 6 | FERNANDO ALONSO | SPAIN | ASTON MARTIN | |
| 7 | ALEXANDER ALBON | THAILAND | WILLIAMS | |
| 8 | FRANCO COLAPINTO | ARGENTINA | WILLIAMS | |
| 9 | LEWIS HAMILTON | BRITAIN | MERCEDES | |
| 10 | OLIVER BEARMAN | BRITAIN | HAAS | |
| 11 | NIKO HULKENBERG | GERMANY | HAAS | |
| 12 | PIERRE GASLY | FRANCE | ALPINE | |
| 13 | DANIEL RICCIARDO | AUSTRALIA | RB | |
| 14 | ZHOU GUANYU | CHINA | SAUBER | |
| 15 | ESTEBAN OCON | FRANCE | ALPINE | |
| 16 | VALTERRI BOTTAS | FINLAND | SAUBER | |
| RETIRED | SERGIO PEREZ-LAP 49 | MEXICO | RED BULL | |
| RETIRED | CARLOS SAINZ JR-LAP 49 | SPAIN | FERRARI | |
| RETIRED | LANCE STROLL- LAP 45 | CANADA | ASTON MARTIN | |
| RETIRED | YUKI TSUNODA-LAP 14 | JAPAN | RB |
Conclusion: A Statement Win for McLaren
Oscar Piastri’s victory in Azerbaijan adds another impressive milestone to his young career and propels McLaren into serious contention in the Constructors’ Championship. With Perez and Sainz out of the race, McLaren capitalized on the opportunity to score maximum points, moving them to the top of the standings.
The streets of Baku once again delivered a thrilling and unpredictable race, and Piastri’s win will undoubtedly be one of the standout moments of the 2024 season. As Formula 1 heads to Singapore for the next round, the championship battle remains wide open, with Piastri firmly establishing himself as one of the frontrunners in the sport’s next generation.
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