AZERBAIJAN GP: PIASTRI WASTES HIS CHANCE, IS VERSTAPPEN BACK IN THE TITLE FIGHT?

Maybe now Max Verstappen truly believes. His triumph in Baku—back-to-back after Monza and his fifth win of the season—has reignited a drivers’ title battle that, until just a few weeks ago, seemed already closed. The Red Bull-Honda proved incisive, fast, and reliable at the very moment when McLaren’s two aces suffered one of their darkest weekends of the year.

The numbers tell the story: Verstappen now sits on 255 points, behind Lando Norris on 299 and championship leader Oscar Piastri on 324. With seven races still to go, and nearly 200 points on the table once you factor in the Sprint weekends in Austin, São Paulo, and Losail, the door isn’t shut. A couple of missteps from McLaren could completely reshape the trajectory of a season many thought was already decided.

Sunday’s script was written quickly. Williams and Racing Bulls, who had surprised in qualifying, simply didn’t have the pace to hold back the Red Bull. Within a few corners, Verstappen was firmly in control. From there it was all about management, precision, and composure. Barring a mistake—which never came—the race was his.

McLaren, on the other hand, hit rock bottom. Piastri threw away his chances at the start, slipping backward before crashing into the barriers in a desperate overtaking attempt. It was a moment that showed how qualifying setbacks and race-day tension can weigh even on the brightest young stars. Norris didn’t seize the opening either. Starting just seventh after a Saturday mistake, he finished in the same spot, unable to break through the traffic. The outcome? Only six points gained on his teammate, who was lucky not to lose more.

While McLaren stumbled, Mercedes found fresh air. George Russell, still under the weather from illness, dug deep and—thanks to smart strategy—secured a well-deserved second place, smiling again on the podium. Beside him, Andrea Kimi Antonelli finally delivered: a strong qualifying, flawless tire management, and bold overtakes earned him an excellent fourth place. His points also lifted Mercedes back ahead of Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings.

Ferrari once again promised more than it could deliver. Quick on Friday, lost by Saturday, and beaten by Sunday. The SF25’s chronic weaknesses reappeared, leaving Maranello with a frustrating weekend. Hamilton and Leclerc spent more time battling each other than their rivals, finishing eighth and ninth in a late-race shuffle that bordered on comical—a fitting snapshot of the confusion currently reigning at Ferrari.

For Carlos Sainz, however, Baku was a revival. After months of struggle with Williams, he delivered a weekend of redemption: a front-row start—partly luck, partly skill—and a tenacious drive to third place, the team’s first true podium since 2017. It was the kind of result that gives credibility back to a project too often dismissed.

Racing Bulls also had reason to celebrate. Liam Lawson finished a strong fifth, even overtaking Yuki Tsunoda—the very driver who had replaced him earlier this year. More than the points, it was a statement that this team knows how to nurture young talent, further underlined by Isack Hadjar’s tenth-place finish despite technical issues.

The rest was background noise: Sauber out of range, Aston Martin and Haas invisible, Alpine reduced to also-rans, still suffering from years of questionable leadership.

But the spotlight belonged entirely to Verstappen and his Red Bull.

The Dutchman has breathed life back into a championship that looked frozen solid. Maybe Piastri is still the favorite, maybe Norris will regroup—but after Baku, one thing feels certain: this season hasn’t written its ending yet.

© Cavalieri Garage & Co.