F1 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix results: Russell wins in Baku

George Russell claimed victory in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, converting pole position into his first Formula 1 win since Austria after a tense late-race battle with Max Verstappen in Baku.

The Mercedes driver controlled the race from the front, extending his advantage over Oscar Piastri through the opening half of the race before making his pit stop under Safety Car conditions on Lap 31.

Russell held the lead through two restarts, but the Red Bull driver chased him all the way to the chequered flag, finishing just 0.196 seconds behind.

Full summary of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix results

• George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole position
• Max Verstappen finished second and Isack Hadjar third.
• Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.
• Arvid Lindblad came home seventh for Racing Bulls, while Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman completed the top nine.
• Carlos Sainz took the final point in 10th, while Lando Norris was among the non-finishers after his Lap 35 retirement.

2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix results

Russell holds off Verstappen to win in Baku

Russell made the perfect start from pole, maintaining the lead through the opening lap and gradually stretching his advantage over Piastri during the first half of the race.

The Mercedes driver remained untroubled at the front until the Safety Car was deployed, allowing him to pit on Lap 31 for soft tyres without surrendering the lead.

Russell restarted from the front and once again controlled the race following the first restart. A second Safety Car period after Norris' incident produced another restart on Lap 38, but Russell retained his composure and again, led the field away.

Verstappen kept the pressure on until the finish, but Russell held firm to secure his first victory since the Austrian Grand Prix.

Antonelli storms from 16th to fifth

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli demonstrated why he holds such a substantial points advantage as he fought back from 16th on the grid to finish fifth.

The Mercedes driver initially lost a position at the start, dropping to 17th, but steadily worked his way through the field and was up to 13th by Lap 10.

Antonelli finally broke into the points on Lap 17 when he passed Oliver Bearman into Turn 1. Another opportunity arrived when Norris ran wide at Turn 1 on Lap 30, promoting Antonelli to eighth.

He then pitted for soft tyres under the Safety Car and retained eighth before the restart. Norris' retirement promoted Antonelli to seventh, while Piastri's Turn 1 error on Lap 40 moved him into sixth.

Antonelli completed his recovery by passing Hamilton into Turn 1 on Lap 43, securing fifth place and 10 championship points.

Hamilton finishes sixth for Ferrari

Hamilton started sixth and maintained his position through the opening lap, before Verstappen moved ahead on Lap 2. The Ferrari driver recovered ground on Lap 17 by passing Norris into Turn 1, moving back into sixth.

Hamilton also stopped behind the Safety Car on Lap 31, and emerged without losing position, restarting sixth and remaining there through the second restart.

Piastri's mistake at Turn 1 promoted Hamilton to fifth on Lap 40, but Antonelli then swept past into fifth on Lap 43. Hamilton ultimately finished sixth, just behind Antonelli, after a tough weekend for Ferrari.

Lindblad takes seventh as Bearman finishes ninth

Arvid Lindblad started 15th but quickly gained a position on the opening lap, before dropping back behind Antonelli.

After the first restart, Lindblad was later promoted up the order following Norris' incident involving the Alpines. That moved the Racing Bulls driver into the top 10, with Piastri's Lap 40 mistake promoting him further. Lindblad eventually finished seventh, narrowly ahead of Esteban Ocon at the line.

Oliver Bearman also fought through the field after starting 10th. Having initially dropped down the order, the Safety Car restart and Norris' retirement presented opportunities for Bearman, who duly moved up the order, taking ninth and adding two championship points to his tally.

Norris retires after difficult Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Norris started fifth and immediately moved ahead of Hadjar into fourth at Turn 1. His progress was short-lived, however, as both Red Bulls passed him on Lap 3 before Hamilton relegated him further on Lap 17.

A lock-up at Turn 1 on Lap 30 caused Norris to lose further positions to Gasly and Antonelli. He then pitted under the Safety Car for soft tyres and restarted ninth.

Norris' race ended shortly afterwards when he became tangled up in a Turn 1 incident involving the Alpines, bringing out another Safety Car and forcing the McLaren driver into retirement.

2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: key takeaways

• George Russell converted pole into victory and secured his first win since Austria.
• Max Verstappen finished just 0.196 seconds behind Russell after applying pressure throughout the closing stages.
• Isack Hadjar completed the podium for Red Bull Racing in third.
• Kimi Antonelli produced an outstanding recovery from 16th to fifth.
• Lewis Hamilton finished sixth, while Arvid Lindblad scored six points for seventh after another strong drive.
• Lando Norris retired on Lap 35 following a Turn 1 incident with the Alpines.

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