Azerbaijan Grand Prix race day

By: Geoff Creighton

Summary


	Valtteri Bottas wins the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
	Hamilton second with Vettel third; fastest lap point for Leclerc
	Promoted: For plenty of odds and offers, download the Pitstop Betting app. Play along today by downloading the app. Download the app today. T&Cs apply.

Status: Stopped

17:01 That's all from Autosport Live's coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix won by Valtteri Bottas.

Join us again in two weeks time for the Spanish Grand Prix, but stick with Autosport in the coming days for news and analysis, videos and podcasts following the race in Baku.

Baku Formula 1 race report: Bottas fends off Hamilton in Azerbaijan

Valtteri Bottas withstood a late charge from Lewis Hamilton to win Formula 1's Azerbaijan Grand Prix and atone for his heartbreak at the end of last year's race in Baku

16:59

16:58 It's a silent 'green room' as the drivers await the podium.

16:57 Through gritted teeth, Vettel admits "I don't think we are favourites going to Barcelona".

16:54 Hamilton looks to be forcing positivity after finishing second, but follows Bottas's lead in crediting the Mercedes team for its work.

16:53 "We're all performing really, really well," says Bottas, summing up the mood perfectly. Mercedes execution has been sensational in 2019, made to look even better by the error-stricken Ferrari.

16:52 Vettel congratulates Bottas and Hamilton at the scales. Ferrari had no answer in the end for Mercedes.

16:50

16:50 "Amazing job guys, really, really strong," adds Bottas on the radio. "I'm really proud to be a part of this."

16:49

16:47 Retirements: Gasly, Grosjean, Kvyat, Ricciardo

16:47 Out of the points: 11 Albon; 12 Giovinazzi; 13 Magnussen; 14 Hulkenberg; 15 Russell; 16 Kubica

16:47 "Yes! Ha," says Bottas.

"Great job, get in there," is the reply from Mercedes.

16:47 Result: 1 Bottas; 2 Hamilton; 3 Vettel; 4 Verstappen; 5 Leclerc; 6 Perez; 7 Sainz; 8 Norris; 9 Stroll; 10 Raikkonen

16:46 Leclerc's time was a scintillating 1m43.009s. Phwoar.

16:45 After heartbreak last year, VALTTERI BOTTAS WINS THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX!

16:45 Leclerc is flying on his new softs, and takes the fastest lap on the penultimate tour.

16:44 "Overtake is available," says Mercedes to Bottas. But he won't need that as he's just set the fastest lap of the race.

16:43 A race-best middle sector from Bottas.

16:43 No DRS for Hamilton last time around. He'll need that next time.

16:42 Hamilton pulls back three tenths in the last stint. This is epic.

16:42 HAMILTON LOSES TWO TENTHS IN SECTOR TWO! That's a net three tenths lost in the first two sectors.

Bottas is replying in kind.

16:41 Bottas is a tenth quicker in sector one next time around.

16:40 FASTEST LAP FROM HAMILTON! He's with Bottas now...

16:40 The closest midfield battle left is for 11th, with Giovinazzi now within 1.9s of Albon.

16:40 Personal best and race best sectors from Hamilton on this lap so far...

16:39 Leclerc pits to have a go at taking fastest lap.

16:39 Stroll and Raikkonen are secure in ninth and 10th after strong races - particularly by pitlane starter Raikkonen.

16:39 Bottas was faster than Hamilton last time around and looks to have the pace to manage this. Not long to go!

16:39 Mad events aside, it's hard to see much changing in the final laps even in the midfield. Perez is now 4s clear of Sainz in the fight for sixth and Norris is falling away from them rather than catching.

16:37 Vettel, Verstappen and Leclerc look set to finish in that order as it stands.

16:36 Hamilton has closed to within one and a half seconds of Bottas.

16:36 Five laps to go next time around.

16:35 Mercedes tell Bottas: "Verstappen and Leclerc could pit for fastest lap, so we're going to go for that," Bottas has the fastest lap now.

16:35 Kubica has made a second pitstop to take softs at last. He's 16th (and last) and 46s behind team-mate Russell now, some of that due to his penalty.

16:34 Chucking on new softs during the VSC isn't paying off for anyone so far - Norris is only inching back towards Perez and Sainz rather than charging, and Magnussen and Hulkenberg look unlikely to get anywhere from 13th and 14th.

16:34