George Russell holds off Max Verstappen to win Azerbaijan Grand Prix

sportsSep 26, 202618365

Mercedes' George Russell held off Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.196 seconds to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku after two late safety-car restarts. Russell led comfortably early while Verstappen climbed from eighth but became stuck behind Oscar Piastri before the mid-race safety car triggered by Alex Albon's crash on lap 30. A second restart collapsed into a pile-up at Turn One when Alpine's Franco Colapinto hit team-mate Pierre Gasly and collected Lando Norris, putting Verstappen on Russell's tail for the final 11-lap dash. Russell lost turbo and electrical boost late after easing for yellow flags following Valtteri Bottas's crash at Turn 15, but accelerated early on the final restart and denied Verstappen an overtaking opportunity into Turn One. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar finished third on his return after missing three races with a broken wrist. Russell's victory cut team-mate Kimi Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points after Antonelli recovered from 16th to finish fifth.

Formula 1

@f1tv.bsky.social

GEORGE RUSSELL WINS THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX!! 🏁🏆🎉 #F1 #AzerbaijanGP

14814d ago

vmary1973.bsky.social2

Shows he is a hell of a great driver, I'm glad for him as he took some level of shit the past few weeks. Hope it boosts his confidence.

duhAsswipe1

Congratulations Qualify to the Win Max was so close

Quoting this

EmmaKittyKat 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈3

This race was starting to dangerously become another absolute borefest, but the mid-race clashes saved it. George never really had a danger of losing the lead, but the Red Bulls getting strong and closer was intriguing, GG for the double podium. Alpine, McLaren...bruh. So stoked for Sepang! #F1

⁵Julia⁴⁴🇾🇪2

VAMOOOOOSSSSSSS BOA DEMAIS MEU MANO GEORGE mas alguém por favor EXPLODA AS REDBULL

Matt Bishop 🏳️‍🌈 🏁

@thebishf1.bsky.social

Impressive yet narrow #AzerbaijanGP win just now for George Russell (pic), thereby joining Denny Hulme, Jacky Ickx, Daniel Ricciardo & his Merc team-mate Kimi Antonelli on 8 career #F1 GP wins. #AnorakFact

3914d ago

tim1

Nice to see George and Max continuing to get on post race.

mellotronworker1

I'm wondering how much of a kicking Colapinto is taking right now

Sean Kelly

@virtualstatman.bsky.social

George Russell's 0.196s winning margin over Max Verstappen is the closest in a green flag finish at a Grand Prix since Ferrari's infamous stage-managed finish at the 2002 US Grand Prix, when Rubens Barrichello accidentally beat Michael Schumacher by 0.011s #AzerbaijanGP

2614d ago

Quoting this

shehan3

largest pole margin in the dry this decade and closest winning margin in two all in one weekend 🤧😭

PlanetF1

@planetf1com.bsky.social

George Russell WINS in Baku! 🇦🇿 There was only 0.196s in it as Max Verstappen hassled him to the line, but the Mercedes driver is back on the top step 🏆

2814d ago

VanCity 6042

☝️☝️☝️ #F1 #Baku What a finish!!! #Vancouver watching up at 3:15am #Benz #Kimi 🇮🇹

Rory Mitchell

@rorymitchellf1.bsky.social

Colapinto has been given a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Gasly and Norris at the first restart. Expect that to be converted into a grid drop for the next race. #F1 #AzerbaijanGP

1914d ago

Daily F1

@dailyf1.bsky.social

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari SF-26) during the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit. Il Predestinato finished the race in P4. #f1 #formula1

Top-down shot of Leclerc driving around Baku.

2113d ago

Andrew Benson

@andrewbensonf1.bsky.social

Azerbaijan Grand Prix result: George Russell holds off Max Verstappen for Baku win - BBC Sport www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formul...

1813d ago

F1 Brasil

@f1br.bsky.social

🏁 George Russell vence o GP do Azerbaijão em final eletrizante; Max Verstappen é 2º por apenas 0.196s #F1 #AzerbaijanGP

1613d ago

mclaren news 🧡

@mclarenf1news.bsky.social

Lando is out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix - he got caught up with the Alpines colliding at T1 upon the safety car restart and his car found the barrier. He is okay and out of the car. A rough race for him. | #F1 #McLaren

914d ago

Kym Illman

@kymillmanf1.bsky.social

ONE TENTH That was the gap (0.1s) between Max Verstappen and George Russell at the end of the race, with the final lap coming down to the wire after George lost some power after passing double yellow flags from Valtteri Bottas' Turn 15 crash. #f1 #formula1 #AzerbaijanGP

813d ago

Tim Hauraney

@timhauraney.bsky.social

Was that the George Russell of old we saw on Saturday and can he win this years drivers title 🤔 📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Y9...

513d ago

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

F1 live updates: Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku City Circuit

514d ago

Madeline Coleman

@madelinecoleman.bsky.social

🚨F1 Mailbag Alert🚨 Have any questions after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix? Send them over via the link below, and we’ll answer as best we can in this week's F1 mailbag on @theathletic.com. www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...

613d ago

F1Documents

@f1docs.bsky.social

Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Doc 66 - Infringement - Car 43 - Collision with Car 10 (Pierre Gasly) in Turn 1 #AzerbaijanGP

413d ago

John Rosevear

@jrosevear.bsky.social

In the old days (the 1990s), F1 races in Europe often had start times that meant those of us in EST/EDT had to get up stupidly early on Sunday morning to watch. So anyway, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix starts in about 25 minutes.

414d ago

3 sources

theguardian.comGeorge Russell holds off Max Verstappen to win crash-filled F1 Azerbaijan GP bbc.comAzerbaijan Grand Prix result: George Russell holds off Max Verstappen for Baku win bbc.co.ukRussell wins despite late Verstappen challenge

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George Russell holds off Max Verstappen to win Azerbaijan Grand Prix

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