Max Verstappen once again demonstrated why he is one of the greats of Formula 1, taking victory in the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Dutchman started from pole position, his first in Baku and sixth of the year, and led the race from start to finish with relentless pace. During the 51 laps of the street circuit, Verstappen showed great skill in managing his tires and maintaining his concentration despite pressure from George Russell and the Williams and Mercedes drivers looking to sneak onto the podium.
With this victory, Verstappen achieves his 67th Formula 1 win, placing him among the all-time greats in the category. He also consolidates his position as one of the most consistent drivers of the season, adding his fourth victory in a difficult year for Red Bull, marked by internal changes in the team and the loss of key players in some Grand Prix races. The Dutchman also adds another historic pole position to his record, achieving the largest margin since 2016 in a qualifying session, demonstrating his superior pace in the most demanding conditions.
Carlos Sainz achieves his first podium finish with Williams
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix also had its historic moment thanks to Carlos Sainz, who secured his first podium finish with Williams by crossing the finish line in third place. Starting from second on the grid, the Spaniard managed to maintain a consistent and competitive pace throughout the race, overtaking direct rivals such as Liam Lawson and resisting pressure from George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. His performance was described as flawless, achieving a perfect balance between speed and race strategy, including his only pit stop on lap 28, which allowed him to come out ahead of Antonelli and consolidate his position on the podium.
Sainz celebrated his achievement with great emotion, describing it as the most special podium of his life, and highlighted the importance of teamwork and perseverance after a year full of challenges. This result not only represents a personal milestone for the Spanish driver, but also marks a turning point for Williams, consolidating the British team as one of the best of the rest and proving that, with strategy and consistency, they can compete with the top teams.
McLaren struggles and Piastri retires
The race in Baku was difficult for McLaren, which lost a key opportunity to score points in the championship. Oscar Piastri, the World Championship leader with 324 points, had to retire on the first lap after an accident with no physical consequences, costing him valuable points in the title fight. His teammate, Lando Norris, finished seventh but was unable to take advantage of Piastri’s retirement to close the gap in the standings, remaining 25 points behind.
This result shows that, although McLaren has speed and potential, race management and adaptation to the circumstances of the street circuit remain critical issues. Despite this setback, the team maintains its lead in the championship thanks to the points accumulated by Piastri in previous races, although any mistakes in the upcoming races could complicate its title fight against rivals such as Verstappen and Red Bull.
