Fiasco for Ferrari in Baku: Verstappen escapes in the World Cup

Created: 06/12/2022Updated: 06/12/2022 2:49 p.m

World Champion Max Verstappen won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

© Sergei Grits/AP/dpa

Defending champion Max Verstappen pulls away in the Formula 1 World Championship.

The Dutchman uses another debacle at Ferrari to win in Baku.

Sebastian Vettel achieved his best result of the season.

Baku - A Ferrari fiasco in the streets of Baku paved the way for Max Verstappen to his fifth Formula 1 win of the season.

The world champion extended his championship lead at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Ferrari star Charles Leclerc had to give up as the front-runner with an engine failure.

Second, Sergio Pérez made the third Red Bull double win of the year perfect.

They were followed by the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, because Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari also did not reach the finish line due to an early defect.

"It hurts.

We need to look at it to learn from it.

It's totally disappointing.

It's hard to understand," said Leclerc after the next major setback in the title race.

A driving error in Imola, a broken engine in Barcelona and a strategy breakdown in Monaco had cost him many points recently.

In the overall standings, Leclerc fell back to third place and is now 34 points behind Verstappen.

Superior ride

The Dutchman increased his tally to 150 points with a superior drive to his 25th win of his career.

His team-mate Pérez is now 21 points behind in second.

Sebastian Vettel secured his best result of the season so far with a strong sixth place in the Aston Martin.

Mick Schumacher, who had to settle for 14th place in the Haas, experienced another disappointment.

For the fourth time in a row, Leclerc had placed his Ferrari in first place.

However, his pole positions hadn't brought him any luck in the end.

Neither in Miami nor in Barcelona or Monaco could he convert the starting advantage into a win.

And this time the lead was quickly gone.

Buoyed by his triumph in Monte Carlo and the extension of his contract until 2024, Pérez overtook Leclerc before the first corner.

Sainz causes turbulence

Verstappen also got off to a good start, but was no longer able to squeeze past his Ferrari rival.

That's how it went on the first rounds.

Verstappen appeared in large format in Leclerc's rear-view mirror several times, while Pérez managed a small cushion in front.

Sainz then caused the first turbulence.

The fourth-placed Spaniard suddenly rolled out in his Ferrari.

Diagnosis: hydraulic damage.

The virtual safety car briefly slowed down the field for the clean-up work.

Leclerc and some other drivers used this for a pit stop.

also read

Veteran Alonso breaks Schumacher's long-term record

Leclerc starts from pole in Baku - Vettel strong

In contrast, both Red Bull fell by the wayside.

Verstappen was allowed to pass Pérez to the top without a fight so as not to lose too much time to Leclerc, who was rushing on with fresh tires.

When both Red Bull drivers came to the garage for service, the Ferrari star took the lead.

The next drama for the Scuderia followed a little later: As in Barcelona, ​​smoke rose from Leclerc's engine.

Desperately, the 24-year-old radioed to the pits on lap 20: "The power is gone." Leclerc dragged himself back into the pit lane at a snail's pace, climbed out of the car and waved at the audience with a sad expression.

"I just can't find the right words to describe it," he confessed shortly afterwards on the Sky microphone.

The way was finally clear for Red Bull's next double success.

Vettel demanded

The eighth round of the season was hard work for veteran Vettel.

Starting from ninth after a strong qualifying session, he was on his way up when he missed the corner during an overtaking manoeuvre.

But Vettel kept fighting and used a bold tactic with just one early pit stop.

That paid off in the end.

The working day was again frustrating for compatriot Mick Schumacher.

As the last player after qualifying, the 23-year-old was hoping for some chaos in order to finally be able to capture his first championship points.

He drove at the end of the field without a chance and was unable to counter the recent growing criticism after his series of accidents.

dpa