Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025: Race Review

After a record-breaking number of crashes, red flags and surprise results during Qualifying, it was hard to believe that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix could not also follow suit.

While the likes of Carlos Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda unexpectedly conquered their own personal and professional battles, the recently dominant stature of McLaren fell to its knees, with Piastri suffering an unusual lapse of judgement, and Lando Norris failing to capitalise on such.

As such, the hope held by Mclaren, to be able to wrap-up the constructors’ championship, fell flat.

Key Moments

After seven crashes and six red flags frequented Qualifying – no, we are not reciting the 12 Days of Christmas: Formula One edition – the Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw itself with an unprecedented starting lineup.

While the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris started their race in P9 and P7 respectively, Carlos Sainz and rookie Liam Lawson found themselves as unlikely forerunners, both placing within the top 5 of the starting grid.

This left all to play for heading into the race, on a track that evidently did not suit the almost -2025-constructors’-champions McLaren.

The waning fate of team Papaya was almost indefinitely solidified during just the opening lap, with Piastri getting ahead of himself and the field, jumping the lights and activating his car’s anti-stall, following a momentary pause.

Consequently, the drivers’ championship leader found himself dropping dead last, before the first turn had even entered into view.

Unfortunately, as Fernando Alonso also followed suit, in a mishap of human errors, both drivers received a 5-second time penalty.

The Australian was soon to be put out of his misery, however, colliding with the barriers of Turn 5, and putting an end to his historic 44 race-finishing streak; an achievement originating back to the 2023 United States Grand Prix and beyond.

This leaves Piastri embedded in Formula One history, with the second longest run of races behind Lewis Hamilton, failing to earn the top spot by just five Grand Prixes.

The 5-second time penalty awarded to Piastri during the opening lap will, however, not loom over the Singapore Grand Prix, following recently updated regulations stipulated by the FIA, which recede minor penalties under a DNF result.

During Lap 17, fans eagerly awaited a yellow flag that would heat up the intensity of Sunday’s battle, with Alex Albon making direct contact with Franco Colapinto.

While both drivers were able to keep calm and carry on, eradicating the hopes of a safety car, Alex Albon received a 10-second time penalty that saw his race go from bad to worse.

During Lap 38, Lando Norris found himself the victim of a slow pit stop for a second consecutive Grand Prix – 4.1 seconds – with the unconscious scripting of memes and cinematography to follow, produced so effortlessly by McLaren.

Such an error from the team vitally cost the British driver two race positions and four points, exiting from the pit lane behind both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda into P7 position, which is where he remained until the end.

While the midfield battled to seize the opportunity presented to them by a defeated McLaren, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix fell flat for the most part, with the excitement alternatively dominated by an action-packed Qualifying session, and an unexpected race opening.

As such, Max Verstappen was able to provide Red Bull, and himself, a second consecutive race win, keeping the slim hopes of his fans alive, with regard to his championship hopes. He did so in prime style, cruising across the finish line almost 15 seconds ahead of the competition.

Following behind, George Russell claimed his seventh podium position of the season in P2 , while Carlos Sainz was able to convert his “smooth operation” to a maiden podium for Williams, in P3 position.

This marks the constructors’ first podium-scoring placement since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix with former Williams star George Russell, who poetically found himself standing alongside Sainz on the podium at Baku, passing the baton onwards.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025: Final Thoughts

With Max Verstappen once again finding himself at the pinnacle of the podium, the very slim possibility of the Dutchman clinching a fifth consecutive drivers’ world championship title feels increasingly plausible, irrespective of the bounds of realism.

This paired with Yuki Tsunoda achieving a season-best result for Red Bull in P6 position, leads the question as to whether the constructors have finally regained their otherwise dwindling spark, seemingly ignited by the dismissal of Christian Horner.

It certainly appears as such, with the inevitable uncertainty of what could have been – had leadership have been challenged earlier on within the season – lingering in the paddock’s press, and overall Formula One franchise.

With regard to McLaren, this feat is particularly worrisome, when considering their desire to challenge for continued success in future seasons of Formula One.

A second consecutively slow pitstop; championship leader Oscar Piastri crashing out both during Qualifying and the race, as well as Lando Norris failing to capitalise on his teammate’s catastrophic day out, are all interesting talking points elevated from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Given the disharmony for McLaren within the media, perhaps it is not just the drivers who are starting to crumble under the newly mounting pressure placed upon them.

Spoken with one eye firmly placed on Max Verstappen, I do feel that Oscar Piastri is still the most likely candidate to solidify their 2025 season championship successes.

While the Australian undoubtably fell hard at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, such errors are notably slim and slow, with Piastri maintaining a clear and conscious focus throughout the present season, which ultimately builds the characteristics of his world champion persona.

Leaving yourself so exposed to the racing elements, one would only anticipate that Lando Norris use this as momentum, to break down the points lead ahead and go for gold. However, the British driver instead denied himself this – very open – opportunity, insecurely converting his advantage to a limp 6 points.

This is yet another example of why Lando Norris lacks the quality and consistency required to win the drivers’ championship, with the same faults presented throughout the 2024 season also.

Now leading the drivers’ championship by just 25-points, it is merely fortunate that Baku did not suit the McLaren set up as a whole, or else the cost of Piastri’s misfortune could have been far greater.

Conclusively, in the midfield, we must also celebrate the maiden podium of Carlos Sainz for Williams, whose personal success story is just one of many unexpected twists and turns to have emerged from the 2025 season.

Thisn achievement becomes even more remarkable when considering Sainz, Nico Hulkenburg and rookie Isack Hadjar have all claimed a landmark podium place, before seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been able to do so at Ferrari.

With question marks now being placed around McLaren, as far as the championships are concerned, can the team drown out the noise of the media, and make a unified comeback under the lights of the Singapore Grand Prix?

The 2025 season continues at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, on October 5th.