F1 update – Azerbaijan GP

Round 17 of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship was held on the streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took his second victory of the year heading home Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who finished second whilst Mercedes George Russell finished third.

Azerbaijan GP – top 5:

• 1st: Oscar Piastri – McLaren
• 2nd: Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
• 3rd: George Russell – Mercedes
• 4th: Lando Norris – McLaren
• 5th: Max Verstappen – Red Bull

Other highlights:

• The opening lap saw Racing Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll collide at turn 4, Tsunoda would eventually retire on lap 15 due to damage from the collision, whilst Stroll would retire on lap 46 due to brake failure.
• lap 50 saw an exciting battle for second which involved the Ferrari’s of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as well as the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, however Sainz and Perez would crash out on the run to turn 4.
• McLaren’s Lando Norris started fifteenth on the grid and finish fourth by passing his championship rival Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and set fastest lap on his way before the overtake.
• Williams driver Franco Colapinto became the first Argentinian driver to score points in Formula 1 since the late Carlos Reutemann in 1982 with an eighth place finish, it was also the teams best performance of the year as team mate Alexander Albon finished seventh.
• Haas’s Chelmsford driver Oliver Bearman would finish in the points in tenth place.

News:

• Aston Martin announced that Adrian Newey will join the team from the 2025 season as managing technical partner.
• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg and both Alpine drivers of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were inviestigated for overtaking under a virtual safety, all 4 drivers were given reprimands.
• McLaren were fined $5,000 for a pitlane infringement.

The next round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship will be held at the Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore for the Singapore Grand Prix on 20th to 22nd September.

Here’s Aston and regular contributor Cameron Perkins with the latest from the world of Formula 1.