Verstappen Wins Azerbaijan GP, Climbs to Second in F1 Championship

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was marked by a chaotic qualifying session with six red flags, a new record for F1, largely due to challenging wind conditions and close walls at the Baku City Circuit that caused multiple crashes. Max Verstappen claimed victory, extending his lead in laps led, while Oscar Piastri suffered a disastrous weekend with a crash in qualifying followed by a jump start and early race exit, reducing his championship lead to 25 points over Lando Norris. Norris finished seventh, and Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli performed strongly, with Russell taking second place and Mercedes overtaking Ferrari for second in the Constructors' Championship. Carlos Sainz secured a front-row start and a podium finish for Williams, their first since 2021, marking a significant achievement for the team. McLaren did not clinch the Constructors' Championship at this race but remains expected to secure the title soon, likely at the Singapore Grand Prix. The battle for second place in the Constructors' standings has intensified, with Red Bull re-entering contention alongside Mercedes and Ferrari.