Formula 1 never ceases to amaze us. The World Cup of emotion and maximum equality had a final to be remembered in Baku. What was a Red Bull double and Max Verstappen slam on the table in the lead after a superb weekend for the Dutchman turned into a nightmare after that accident with five laps to go. For the first time in history, a race was decided with a restart from the starting grid, that is, a one-lap race in which Checo Pérez was crowned and Lewis Hamilton went through braking, signing the umpteenth surprise of a race For the history.
As for the Spanish drivers, Fernando Alonso shone in the final restart and finished in sixth position in Baku. For his part, Carlos Sainz finished eighth later on a difficult day for him. Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly completed the podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
CHECO WINS IN BAKU!
It’s his first victory for Red Bull, and only the second of his career!
He took P1 after Max Verstappen’s crash, and had to hold on during a dramatic restart after the red flag#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/65WmuCXunG
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2021
The sixth Grand Prix of the season started after the most rugged and exciting classification of the season. Up to four red flags were seen in Azerbaijan’s time trial, which ended with the surprise of Charles Leclerc’s second consecutive pole . The Baku Street Circuit awaited with its characteristic beauty and spectacle in a race in which the Spanish pilots had a license to dream. There were hopes for the careers of Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz , but they faded very quickly.
Specifically, at the exit. Carlos Sainz suffered a lot and lost positions in a start in which Fernando Alonso gained a position. At the front, Leclerc endured with Hamilton, Verstappen and Checo Pérez harassing him in a chronicle of an announced death . The Monegasque Ferrari driver held out as best he could, but the low pace of his car made him drop to fourth place. Lewis Hamilton took the lead of the race with the two Red Bulls behind, but the error of Mercedes came .
Red Bull’s master move
Mercedes sent Hamilton and Bottas to the pit stop in a double stop that ended in a nightmare. That of the seven-time world champion was very slow to have to wait and Mercedes granted a golden opportunity to Red Bull , who did not let it pass. The Austrians immediately ordered Max Verstappen to stop and the Dutchman took the lead. Shortly after, Checo Pérez stopped a little slower to come out just ahead of Hamilton and allow Mad Max to fly to victory in Baku.
For the last few seasons, Red Bull has missed a driver who can be close to Verstappen and help the team take the title. Despite the logical difficulties in his adaptation, Checo Pérez is offering more performance than that of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon and may be key in the aspirations of the team in this World Championship. The Mexican earned his salary in Baku holding Hamilton and it seemed that he was going to sign his first podium, but fate had a bigger prize in store for him.
Verstappen puncture with five laps to go
The fight for victory seemed already in the pocket of a Max Verstappen that had survived the relaunch of the race after the Stroll accident, but a puncture ruined everything. Fortune returned to smile at Lewis Hamilton, who however wasted it in the resumption. For his part, Checo Pérez took the jackpot by winning the first race in his history at Red Bull , the second of his career at the Gran Circo. Huge merit also that of Vettel , who returned to the podium with an excellent second place.
All this after the suspension of the race after the accident of Max Verstappen. The decision ended up being historic: the FIA decided on a start from the grid. That is, a one-lap race. The never seen in the history of Formula 1. All one lap with Pérez defending his first position and Hamilton and Vettel threatening him from behind . Finally, Checo Pérez was able to hold the first position in a lap in which Lewis Hamilton went to the escape and lost the opportunity to take the lead of the World Cup. Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly completed the podium, with Alonso in sixth position after a brilliant final lap.
