BAKU: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen cruised to a comfortable victory at the 2022 Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix as both Ferrari rivals Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz retired.

Verstappen, who had a troubled start to the defence of the title, has now begun to gather the momentum as the Dutch driver has extended his lead in the world championship by winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on a disastrous day for Ferrari.

Verstappen’s team – Red Bull made his triumph easier by shuffling his teammate Sergio Perez out of the way and allowing the former to take a dominant lead.

Perez, however, held on to his spot and finished second while also setting the fastest lap time. Verstappen now leads Perez by 21 points and his Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc by 34.

 

Team Ferrari had a day to forget in Azerbaijan GP as Carlos Sainz retired following a hydraulic failure earlier while Leclerc with a blown engine later.

Mercedes’ George Russell pounced on the situation and seized the opportunity with both hands as he finished third after Verstappen and Perez, after starting fifth.

Russell’s teammate Lewis Hamilton finished fourth after complaining of back pain due to his porpoising car. Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri on the other hand, came home fifth, whom Hamilton passed on Lap 44. It was the best result for both Hamilton and Gasly.

Following the conclusion of the Azerbaijan GP, Red Bull have extended their lead to 80 points clear of the second-ranked Ferrari, while Mercedes remained in third.

 

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