Russell wins Azerbaijan GP by 0.196 seconds on Sept 26

Mercedes driver George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on Saturday (September 26, 2026), holding off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.196 seconds to reduce Kimi Antonelli’s Formula One championship lead to 66 points. Russell started from pole position and survived two safety car periods to claim his third victory of the season. 

Russell’s eighth career win was his first since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. Antonelli, who recovered from 16th on the grid to finish fifth, had arrived in Baku with an 81-point advantage after winning the Spanish Grand Prix on September 13. 
 

Safety cars turn Russell’s lead into a late battle

Russell lost a lead of about 11 seconds when a crash involving Williams driver Alex Albon brought out the safety car. Verstappen, who had started eighth, passed McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for second at the restart before another collision prompted a second interruption. 

Verstappen remained close to Russell after racing resumed, setting up a final-lap challenge when the Mercedes driver slowed for yellow flags following Valtteri Bottas’s crash. Russell explained that power did not return immediately when he accelerated again, allowing Verstappen to close on the run to the finish. 

“It’s amazing to be back on the top step of the podium,” Russell said, thanking Mercedes for supporting him through a difficult period. 

Verstappen attributed his improved pace to switching from medium to soft tyres during the safety car period. “I was trying everything that I have available,” the Red Bull driver said of his pursuit of Russell. 

Colapinto receives grid penalty after three-car collision

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto received a five-place grid penalty for his next race after triggering the collision that ended the races of team-mate Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Colapinto locked up at the first corner following the restart and hit Gasly, whose car then struck Norris. 

Colapinto also retired, meaning the original 10-second penalty was converted into a grid drop, according to Formula 1’s account of the stewards’ decision. 

Norris called for Colapinto to receive a race ban. Colapinto apologised to those affected and acknowledged his error: “A big sorry, it shouldn’t happen.” 

McLaren also lost a potential podium when Piastri locked up and ran into the escape road. Piastri crossed the line 14th but was classified 13th after Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto received a 10-second penalty for overtaking under yellow flags, dropping to 15th. 
 

Antonelli limits title damage as Hadjar returns to podium

Mercedes championship leader Antonelli recovered to fifth after crashing in qualifying, while Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar finished third on his return from a wrist injury. Hadjar had missed the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds. 

Antonelli described the Baku event as his worst weekend of the season. The Italian reported substantial floor damage following contact with Haas driver Oliver Bearman at a restart and characterised the race as an exercise in limiting the damage to his championship campaign. 

Hadjar welcomed the result after six weeks away, describing the gradual rebuilding of his confidence around Baku’s street circuit. “I felt strong,” the Frenchman said. 

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth. Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad took seventh, ahead of Haas team-mates Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman, with Williams’ Carlos Sainz completing the points places. 

Lindblad’s race included contact that sent Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson into a spin; the stewards took no further action. Lawson finished 12th. Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll retired with mechanical problems, while Cadillac’s Bottas crashed out late in the race. 

Albon retires while Sainz scores for Williams

Thailand’s Alex Albon retired after locking up and hitting the barriers, while Williams team-mate Sainz finished 10th after a late pass on Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg. Albon attributed his accident to braking slightly later than on the previous lap and being caught by a gust of wind. 

In Williams’ race report, Albon said the team would examine the data and expressed encouragement about the car upgrades introduced in Baku. Sainz also welcomed the progress but cautioned that more improvement was needed to score points regularly. 

Formula One’s next event is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang on October 2–4, with the race scheduled for October 4.