Russell holds off Verstappen to claim dramatic Baku victory

Russell ends his wait for victory in Baku

Mercedes' George Russell ended a personal drought dating back to June's Austrian Grand Prix by holding off a charging Max Verstappen to win a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

The Briton dominated the early stages but was made to survive a tense 11-lap finale after two safety cars in quick succession dragged Verstappen onto his tail. Russell could never break free of the four-time world champion, yet Verstappen was never quite close enough to attempt a move into Turn One, the only meaningful overtaking spot on the circuit.

"It's amazing to be back on the top step of the podium," Russell said. "I do want to say a big thanks to my team because they've continued to believe in me through a tough moment, helped me come through it. I'm really proud to have had this weekend."

Verstappen's charge from eighth on the grid

Red Bull's Max Verstappen started only eighth after a cascade of problems in qualifying prevented him from lining up second to Russell. By lap seven he had already climbed to third, passing Isack Hadjar into the position after the Frenchman offered no resistance.

A first safety car on lap 30, triggered when Alex Albon crashed his Williams at Turn Five, gave the leaders a cheap pit stop. On the restart six laps later, Verstappen影子 passed Oscar Piastri into Turn One to claim second. But the race was almost immediately put back under caution after a first-corner pile-up caused by Alpine's Franco Colapinto, who cannoned into team-mate Pierre Gasly, who in turn clattered into Lando Norris. Behind them, Arvid Lindblad tipped Liam Lawson into a spin, prompting a sarcastic response from the New Zealander on the radio.

A tense finale decided by thousandths

The chaos left Verstappen glued to Russell's gearbox for the run to the flag. The Briton accelerated early on the restart and caught the Dutchman off guard, but he was unable to shake him loose, with Verstappen sitting about half a second behind throughout.

There was one last chance for Verstappen on the final lap. Valtteri Bottas crashed his Cadillac at Turn 15, and after backing off for the yellow flags Russell lost his turbo, which in turn cost him electrical boost. Verstappen closed in on the run to the line, and just 0.196 seconds separated them as they crossed the flag — the closest green-flag finish to a grand prix since the 2002 United States Grand Prix.

"I think it's just having more experience with this new driving style I've adopted and every race since the break I feel like I've gone from strength to strength," Russell said of his upturn in form. "I feel more like myself again."

Championship picture

Russell has now finished on the podium in three of the four races since the summer break. His win, coupled with team-mate Kimi Antonelli recovering from 16th to fifth, narrows the championship gap to the Italian at the top to 66 points. Earlier, Charles Leclerc had been passed by Piastri at the start and then lost further ground, while McLaren's promising afternoon unravelled amid the mid-race chaos.