Why Max Verstappen says 0.196s Baku finish-line gap to George Russell is slightly misleading
At the Baku City Circuit, the words Russell spoke after qualifying became reality: the Mercedes driver had already predicted on Friday that, despite starting eighth, Verstappen would pose the biggest threat for victory, and that proved to be the case in a thrilling finale around the streets of Baku. Verstappen fell just 0.196 seconds short of his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at ...…
George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, holding off a late charge from Max Verstappen. Russell, driving for Mercedes, started from pole position and built an 11-second lead before safety cars allowed Verstappen to close the gap. According to Gulf News, Verstappen chased Russell all the way home, coming close enough on the final lap for a last lunge on Turn 15, but Russell held him off.
The race was marked by two mid-race crashes, including one involving Alex Albon, which brought out the safety car and allowed the field to close up. At the restart, another incident occurred involving Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, and Lando Norris. Isack Hadjar finished third in the other Red Bull, with Charles Leclerc fourth for Ferrari.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, was philosophical about his near-miss, saying "The final lap George lost boost and I got close, but it was not enough." Russell, meanwhile, said "That was a fast last lap. He was touching... After those yellows (flags) I lost the boost. I thought he was going to get me." The win trimmed teammate Kimi Antonelli's lead in the drivers' championship to 66 points, with Antonelli finishing fifth.
Brief written by urgent.news from Motorsport.com, Free Malaysia Today, Gulf News, BusinessDay Nigeria, The Citizen — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
