WHAT. A. RACE! The Insane Drama of the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

If you thought the 2024 F1 season couldn’t get any crazier—think again! This weekend, the streets of Baku were buzzing with adrenaline as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix delivered one of the most thrilling races of the year. From shocking crashes to daring overtakes, this was 51 laps of pure edge-of-your-seat action that kept us guessing right until the final second.

Let’s break it down.

Pérez vs. the Streets of Baku – A Love Story Cut Short

Sergio "King of the Streets" Pérez, who’s got quite the romance with Baku, was eyeing his third victory at this circuit. Starting in P4, the Red Bull driver was ready to pounce. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, his teammate and current championship leader, started back in P6, hoping to keep a tight grip on that trophy—but his lead is shrinking faster than a DRS zone!

On the McLaren side, Lando Norris was dealing with the heartbreak of a Q1 elimination thanks to a yellow flag disaster. He was stuck in P15, and the odds were stacked against him. But if there’s anything Lando loves, it’s a good underdog story—and this race was set up for a thriller.

Piastri: The Aussie Who Stole the Show

Then, there’s Oscar Piastri. The Aussie sensation lined up in P2, right behind pole-sitter Charles Leclerc, and he was about to prove why he’s the one to watch. In fact, Piastri stole the spotlight with one of the coolest, most calculated drives of the season. McLaren might have said they’re prioritizing Norris, but it was Piastri who showed up and delivered the goods in Baku!

After some slick pit strategy and an overtake on Leclerc at lap 20, Piastri never looked back. His performance was cool as ice, holding off Leclerc’s DRS attacks with total calm. By the time the checkered flag waved, Piastri had secured his first win of the season. The fans voted him ‘Driver of the Day,’ and honestly, who could disagree? He was an absolute star!

The Final Laps: Where It All Went Crazy

But wait—Baku wasn’t done with us yet! With just a handful of laps to go, the race exploded into chaos. Charles Leclerc, Sergio Pérez, and Carlos Sainz were locked in a high-speed duel for the podium, and it looked like we were about to witness an epic three-way battle for P2. But Baku had other plans.

Lap 50: Leclerc’s rear tires started to give up. Enter Pérez, who made his move to takeover. But in the blink of an eye, BAM!—Pérez and Sainz collide, sending both of them straight into the barriers. Heartbreak! The podium fight was over in an instant, and with that, two potential winners were out of the race. What could have been an epic showdown ended in disappointment—but hey, that’s F1!

Russell’s Sneaky Podium & Norris’ Epic Comeback

While the debris from Pérez and Sainz’s crash was still being cleared up, George Russell quietly made his way up to P3, sealing a spot on the podium under a virtual safety car. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

And let’s not forget about Lando Norris! Starting from P15, Norris fought his way through the pack like a man on a mission. He overtook Max Verstappen and even set the fastest lap of the race, earning himself an extra point. In the end, he finished P4—a massive result, especially with Verstappen down in P5. The championship fight is ON!

Surprise Standouts & The Wild Finish

But the surprises didn’t stop there. Williams’ dynamic duo—Alex Albon and rookie Franco Colapinto—secured P7 and P8, with Colapinto scoring his first-ever F1 points! Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who had to start from the pits due to a late power unit change, fought back to grab P9, and Haas’ young star Oliver Bearman rounded out the top 10 in his debut race as Magnussen’s stand-in.

WHAT. A. RACE!

This race had everything—tense battles, shocking crashes, and a huge shakeup in the championship. McLaren’s stunning performance has them now leading the Constructors' standings, and with Piastri’s win and Norris’ brilliant drive, Red Bull is starting to feel the heat. The season has officially entered spicy mode, and we can’t wait to see what kind of madness the next race brings!