The fourth race of the 2023 Formula One season takes place today after a mini break in the calendar, with Charles Leclerc on pole in Baku on what has already been an action-packed weekend.
Yesterday’s sprint race saw Sergio Perez snatch the win off the Ferrari, although it is back to the grid order decided in Friday’s qualifying this afternoon as part of this new weekend format. That’s good news for Max Verstappen, who starts second and well clear of George Russell following their spat in the sprint.
Red Bull will fancy their chances of a pincer movement on Leclerc, unless Carlos Sainz can make an impact from fourth on the grid. Lewis Hamilton starts fifth ahead of Fernando Alonso as the veterans look to gatecrash the party around a circuit that rarely fails to provide drama. Follow the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix live via Standard Sport’s race blog!
Live updates
All eyes on the pits
Verstappen did not save any time under his pit stop – with the safety car called for just as he left the pit lane.
In come Perez, Leclerc, Sainz, Alonso and Stroll from the top five.
Russell goes wheel to wheel with the Aston at the entry!
As it all shakes out, Verstappen is THIRD!
SAFETY CAR
De Vries has gone into a run-off area and looks to be struggling to drag himself off the kerb!
Red Bull respond by pitting Verstappen… and a safety car is called out just as he leaves!
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Lap 10/51
Hamilton pits and comes out 13th behind a bunch of midfield runners on new Hard tyres.
Scratch that, he’s 12th after Magnussen runs wide at Turn 3!
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Lap 10/51
Verstappen calls into Red Bull team radio to advise that he’s just clipped the wall… then does the fastest lap!
There has been a mistake though, with Perez suddenly half a second closer to the race leader. We’ve not seen any pictures of it yet, though.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Lap 9/51
So, where are the battles ahead?
Alonso and Stroll will fancy their chances at Hamilton in the battle for fifth, with the Mercedes unlikely to threaten Sainz.
Russell is also just over a second behind Norris, running eighth and ninth. Piastri will also fancy his chances against Tsunoda for tenth.
Then, of course, there is the battle for the lead. Verstappen has 1.3 seconds over Perez.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Lap 7/51
Stroll tells team radio he’ll hold off attacking Alonso as the Aston Martin pair bide their time in sixth and seventh.
The Spaniard reckons Hamilton’s tyres are letting go in front of him. Solid team work there, if it pays off.
At the back, early pit stops for Gasly and Bottas. They take the Hard tyres.
PEREZ INTO SECOND PLACE
Nice and easy for the other Red Bull, they now have a 1-2 with 1.3 seconds between Perez and Verstappen.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Lap 5/51
Perez is already on Leclerc’s tail with DRS almost providing him sufficient boost to grab second place into Turn 1…
This may not take long either!
VERSTAPPEN LEADS
Verstappen’s first DRS shot sees him slingshot into the lead!
That was easy into Turn 1.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Lap 3/51
Russell has made up a couple of places early on, rising to ninth ahead of Piastri and Tsunoda.
Stroll also up a place, into seventh past Norris.
