Picture Credit: Twitter
It was a race to remember for the Red Bull Racing. Not only did 2022 world championship leader Max Verstappen clinch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but his teammate Sergio Perez finished second at the Baku City Circuit on Sunday. In what could be touted as improved performance for Mercedes, George Russell finished third to have a podium finish alongside his name. Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton finished fourth.
Meanwhile, on a forgettable evening for Ferrari, they finished with a double DNF. While Charles Leclerc after starting the final race at pole was out of the race after suffering an engine failure, his teammate Carlos Sainz was the first driver to retire from the race. Ferrari later confirmed a hydraulic problem on Sainz’s car and a power unit issue with Leclerc's car.
"I am more than frustrated," Leclerc said after the turn of events in Baku.
"The first stint we weren't particularly strong at the beginning but then I was catching back Checo. I think pitting was the right choice. We were leading and then I was managing the tyres well. We just had to manage the tyres to the end and we were in the best position to do that. Another DNF. It hurts," he added.
"It is more than significant. I don't really have the words. It is just a huge disappointment and I hope we can jump back from it and be on top of those things," he further said.
Meanwhile, Verstappen, who was third on the grid, praised Red Bull's incredible pace but also admitted that luck did have a role to play.
"Of course, also [we were] maybe a tiny bit lucky because of the retirement [for Ferrari], but I think, nevertheless, our car was really quick today, so I could have closed that gap,” Verstappen explained as Red Bull had pitted him nine laps after Leclerc," Verstappen told Sky F1.
Post the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Formula 1 action will move to Canada for the first race there since 2019 after which the races did not take place due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.