The only thing in doubt after 10 laps, really, was which Red Bull would win Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. But even that, by the end, was no contest.
Sergio Pérez outclassed both the field and his teammate Max Verstappen to win on Sunday in Baku. The finish was Pérez’s second victory of the season — Vertstappen has won the other two events — and marked the third time in four races that Red Bull’s cars had crossed the line first and second.
The results also left little doubt about Red Bull’s advantage over every other team in Formula 1 this season, when they have been fastest in practice, in qualifying and on Sundays.
“We pushed to the maximum today,” Pérez said. “We both hit the wall a few times. We were pushing out there. The way Max pushed me was really hard, but we managed to keep him under control.”
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari grabbed a consolation prize by holding off Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin for third, Leclerc’s first podium finish of the year. But both were well beaten by Red Bull. Again.
Sunday’s Race in Photos
When the Race Turned
Almost immediately. Ferrari’s Leclerc started on pole position but even he admitted he might not hold the lead for long. He was correct.
Verstappen passed him on Lap 4. Pérez overtook Leclerc three laps later. At that point, the only question seemed to be which Red Bull would win. An early appearance by the safety car — after Verstappen had pitted — allowed Pérez to flip their order and take the lead, and the race was never close after that.
