Russell Takes Azerbaijan GP Pole

George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole, holding off Max Verstappen by 0.196 seconds after two safety-car periods; it was Russell’s third win of the season and eighth of his career. Verstappen, who started eighth, finished second, and Isack Hadjar took third on his return from a wrist injury. Kimi Antonelli recovered from 16th to finish fifth, reducing his championship lead over Russell from 81 points to 66; Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth. A collision involving Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris brought out a safety car, left Gasly and Norris out of the race, and resulted in a penalty for Colapinto.