F1 Grand Prix race results: Verstappen wins Azerbaijan GP

Leclerc, who pitted early under a virtual safety car caused by team-mate Carlos Sainz’s own retirement, was leading the race when his power unit failed after 20 laps.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez had taken the lead at the start from poleman Leclerc and held it until team-mate Verstappen passed him on lap 15, both Red Bulls then pitting to allow Leclerc back in front until his retirement soon after.

That gifted an easy win to Verstappen, who pulled well clear of Perez to extend his world championship lead.

2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix race results

How the Azerbaijan Grand Prix unfolded

Leclerc held his pole advantage on the short run to Turn 1 but Perez lunged ahead of him at the first corner to take the lead. Verstappen had to defend from Sainz at Turn 3 but maintained third. Mercedes’ George Russell was best of the rest, ahead of Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin).

Perez extended a 2s lead by the time DRS was activated, while Verstappen began to pressure Leclerc for second on lap five. Perez complained of a lack of traction, but maintained his advantage over the warring Leclerc and Verstappen.

Sainz then pulled off at Turn 4 with a hydraulic failure on lap nine, causing a virtual safety car that Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Vettel and Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) decided to pit under. Leclerc suffered a slow stop, while Hamilton lost a place to Vettel having been stacked in the pits behind Russell.

Perez led Verstappen 2.3s as the race went green, with Leclerc in third on fresh hard tyres but 13s back.

Verstappen then reeled in Perez and passed him for the lead at Turn 1 on lap 15, while Leclerc was catching them both on his new rubber. Perez pitted for fresh hards on lap 17 but also suffered a slow stop and rejoined in third, just ahead of Russell.

Verstappen stopped on lap 19, meaning a nine-lap fresher tyres advantage over Leclerc as he rejoined 13s behind him. But Leclerc’s race ended soon after when his power unit failed at the end of lap 20 and he smokily toured into the pits.

Verstappen led by over 6s by half distance and further extended the gap in the second half of the race.

Kevin Magnussen’s Haas ground to a halt on lap 33 to cause another virtual safety car. Verstappen, Perez, Russell and Hamilton stopped again, with Gasly and Tsunoda staying out, the latter gaining a spot from Hamilton.

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