F1 Azerbaijan GP Live Commentary and Updates – Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
F1 is in Baku for round four, with Charles Leclerc beating the Red Bulls to pole in both qualifying sessions for the sprint and grand prix.
But after Leclerc lost out to Sergio Perez in the sprint race, the Ferrari driver will aim to fight back with a second shot from pole for the main race.
As part of the 2023 sprint race weekend format tweaks, the starting grid was decided by Friday’s qualifying session rather than the finishing order in the sprint race.
But both Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg will start from the pitlane due to car changes in parc ferme conditions.
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Summary
Summary
Sergio Perez won F1's 2023 Azerbaijan GP, becoming the first driver to take two victories in Baku. He was joined by Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc on the podium
Leclerc kept the lead from pole at the start, followed by Verstappen, Perez and Sainz
Verstappen overtook Leclerc at the end of lap 3 with a DRS-assisted move. Perez followed through a couple of laps later
De Vries stopped on track on lap 11, with the safety car neutralising the race. Verstappen lost out to Perez and Leclerc but quickly fought back to second
The drivers are already making their way to the starting grid on the reconnaissance laps, a small rule tweak from this round, meaning pitlane opens 10 minutes earlier than previous. Why? For extra grid activities!
In case you were pre-occupied yesterday and missed the action, here's a round-up: Perez won the sprint race overhauling polesitter Leclerc, with Verstappen third after an exchange of bodywork in the sprint and views straight after with Russell.
An exchange of views is probably the most polite way we can put it between Verstappen and Russell. It wasn't quite Verstappen vs Ocon at Brazilian 2018, but they probably won't be sharing flights home.
Back to today's action, and the grid will comprise of 18 drivers because both Ocon and Hulkenberg are starting from pitlane due to respective car changes under parc ferme.
What to watch out for: Polesitter Leclerc will aim to fend off the charging Red Bulls but is braced for a tough task given the superior race pace of his rivals. Safety cars and red flags are a common occurrence in Baku, so strategies could be flipped in an instant.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB19, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14, the rest of the field at the start
This extra 10 minutes of pre-race grid fun appears to have resulted in more time for standing around and taking selfies. You could get a sprint race run in this time waiting around.
No driver has won two Azerbaijan GPs before, while Leclerc has never won the Azerbaijan GP. We've got a strong feeling one of those facts will change today.
At the end of the first lap Leclerc is trying to break the DRS zone from Verstappen. DRS isn't enabled yet, but that's what cost Leclerc against Perez in the sprint.
With DRS Verstappen has a look at overtaking Leclerc at Turn 3, but thinks better of it. The end of the main straight will be where he'll look to pounce next.
Replays have shown it was Albon who made contact with Piastri on the first lap and a fairly significant chunk of the Williams' wing went flying, but he remains in 12th place.
Verstappen takes the lead at the start of lap four! The Red Bull, with DRS, dives by Leclerc into Turn 1 and it was a very easy move thanks to the top speed of Verstappen's car.
Also worth noting that the pitlane starters Ocon and Hulkenberg are yet to make any progress - but, given they're on the hard tyres, they're very much playing the long game here.
Perez pulls off a repeat of Verstappen's move on Leclerc at Turn 1 at the start of lap six to move into second place. So now it is Red Bull vs Red Bull at the front.
