Russell edges Verstappen by 0.1s to win chaotic 2026 Azerbaijan GP
Synopsis
Russell won the 2026 Azerbaijan GP by a razor-thin 0.1 seconds over Verstappen — denying the Dutchman his first win of the season — in a race that saw six drivers, including championship rival Norris, retire. With chaos reshaping the standings, Baku may prove one of the most consequential rounds of the year.
Key Takeaways
George Russell won the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on 26 September , his third victory of the season.
Russell crossed the line just 0.1 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen , denying the Dutchman his first win of 2026.
Isack Hadjar finished third, giving Red Bull a double podium.
Six drivers retired, including Lando Norris , Franco Colapinto , Pierre Gasly , Alex Albon , Valtteri Bottas , Fernando Alonso , and Lance Stroll .
Kimi Antonelli recovered from P16 to finish P5 ; Haas scored points for the first time since the Monaco Grand Prix .
Oscar Piastri dropped from podium contention to P14 after a costly lock-up.
George Russell held off a fierce late charge from Max Verstappen by just one tenth of a second to claim victory at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on 26 September, securing his third win of the season in one of the most incident-packed races of the Formula 1 calendar year. The result was sealed amid chaos that eliminated six drivers, including title contender Lando Norris.
How the Race Unfolded
Russell, driving for Mercedes, built a commanding lead through the opening phase of the race, with Oscar Piastri tasked with holding back the advancing Red Bull pair of Verstappen and Isack Hadjar behind him. The Briton controlled the first half with clinical precision, steadily extending his advantage over the field.
The complexion of the race changed sharply when Williams driver Alex Albon made a costly error, prompting the first Safety Car deployment. Russell held his nerve at the restart, but the neutralisation proved temporary — a second Safety Car period followed after Franco Colapinto locked up and collected both his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Norris, eliminating all three from the race.
Russell Under Pressure in the Final Laps
With the field bunched up for the second restart, Verstappen put Russell under relentless pressure in the closing laps, hunting the Mercedes down through Baku's long straight. Russell, however, held his composure and crossed the line 0.1 seconds ahead, denying the Dutchman what would have been his first win of the 2026 season. Hadjar completed the podium to give Red Bull a double podium finish.
Midfield Drama and Points Surprises
Charles Leclerc took P4 for Ferrari, while Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli delivered an impressive P5, recovering from P16 on the grid to capitalise on the front-running retirements. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished a solitary sixth.
Arvid Lindblad claimed P7, pipping Esteban Ocon, with Ollie Bearman and Carlos Sainz rounding out the top ten. Notably, Haas celebrated their first points since the Monaco Grand Prix with Bearman's finish. Nico Hulkenberg of Audi finished P11 after being overtaken by a Williams in the final two laps, while Liam Lawson settled for P12, reportedly frustrated by contact with his Racing Bulls teammate.
Retirements and the DNF List
Piastri, who had run inside the podium positions for much of the race, suffered a lock-up that cost him dearly, eventually finishing P14 — behind Gabriel Bortoleto (P13) and ahead of Cadillac's Sergio Perez (P15), the last of the classified finishers. Valtteri Bottas drove into the barriers late on to become the final retirement, joining Albon, Colapinto, Norris, and Gasly on the DNF list. The Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll also retired, both reportedly due to separate mechanical failures.
With Norris out of the points entirely, the championship standings will have shifted significantly heading into the next round.
Point of View
Still winless in 2026, was beaten by one tenth after a race that handed him every opportunity; the margins are narrowing but the victories are not coming. McLaren's pace advantage is being undone race by race not by rivals being quicker, but by the sheer attrition rate of street circuits — a pattern worth watching as the calendar moves forward.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
George Russell won the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on 26 September, claiming his third victory of the Formula 1 season. He finished just 0.1 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen.
Why did so many drivers retire from the Baku race?
Six drivers failed to finish the Azerbaijan GP due to a series of incidents, including Alex Albon's error that triggered the first Safety Car, and a separate crash in which Franco Colapinto's lock-up eliminated both Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris. Valtteri Bottas hit the barriers late on, while Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll retired with separate mechanical issues.
Did Max Verstappen win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
No, Verstappen finished second, beaten by just 0.1 seconds by Russell after a strong late charge. The result means Verstappen has yet to take his first win of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
How did Lando Norris fare at the 2026 Azerbaijan GP?
Lando Norris retired and did not finish the race after being caught up in a crash triggered by Franco Colapinto's lock-up. The retirement will have significant implications for Norris's position in the drivers' championship standings.
Who scored surprise points at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli impressed by recovering from P16 on the grid to finish P5, benefiting from retirements ahead. Haas also scored championship points for the first time since the Monaco Grand Prix, with Ollie Bearman finishing inside the top ten.
