Russell edges Verstappen, Antonelli lead cut

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP):

George Russell snatched victory in the blink of an eye – then declared it is “crunch time” in the Formula 1 title fight.

In one of the closest finishes in years, Russell held off Max Verstappen by just 0.196 seconds to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix yesterday, ending a three-month wait for a win.

The result trimmed Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead from 81 points to 66, after the Italian recovered from 16th on the grid to finish fifth.

“My teammate’s had an incredible season. He’s been pretty flawless throughout, but now we’re getting to crunch time,” Russell said. “If I continue delivering performances like I’ve done this weekend, no matter what happens towards the end of the season, I’ll be happy.”

Starting from pole, Russell built a commanding lead and looked set to cruise home after dominating qualifying. But chaos behind him forced two safety-car restarts and set up a dramatic late charge from Verstappen, who surged from eighth to second and nearly caught Russell on the final straight.

“Every race since the (mid-season) break I have gone from strength to strength and I feel more like myself again,” Russell said.

A last-lap crash by Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas slowed the leaders, allowing Verstappen to close rapidly. The Dutchman finished less than two-tenths behind, extending his winless run in 2026 – his first such drought since his rookie season in 2015.

“I lost the boost, I had no power. Thought he was going to get us,” a relieved Russell admitted after sealing his third win of the season.

Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar returned from a wrist fracture to claim third. “I am completely satisfied even if it is a bit numb,” he said.

McLaren endured a nightmare day. Defending champion Lando Norris was taken out in a crash sparked by Franco Colapinto, while Oscar Piastri locked up while defending third, went off track, and dropped to 14th.

Antonelli, starting 16th after a qualifying crash, limited the damage with a composed drive to fifth. He avoided a three-car pile-up ahead and later passed Lewis Hamilton, benefiting from mistakes by rivals.

Ferrari lacked pace, with Charles Leclerc fading to fourth from second on the grid and Hamilton settling for sixth. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad was seventh after tipping teammate Liam Lawson into a spin. “I love getting taken out by my teammate, that’s pretty sick,” Lawson said.

Esteban Ocon finished eighth for Haas, with teammate Oliver Bearman ninth and Carlos Sainz Jr 10th for Williams.

Formula 1 heads to Malaysia next week for a race still branded as the Bahrain Grand Prix, replacing cancelled rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to the Iran war.