Azerbaijan F1 GP 2024 Results: Embiid Hypes Piastri's Win; Verstappen Fails to Podium
Oscar Piastri might be overshadowed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the bigger picture, but the spotlight was all his Sunday in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Piastri held off Charles Leclerc to win his second race of the 2024 Formula One season. George Russell rounded out the podium in third place.
Leclerc and Piastri started from the first and second positions, and that's the order they stayed in for the first 19 laps. On Lap 20, Piastri made his move for the lead and deftly passed on the inside.
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Between overtaking Leclerc and subsequently holding firm at the top of the field, the Australian made a strong impression in Azerbaijan. Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was among those who labeled him an F1 champion in the making:
Piastri coasted to the finish line after a wreck involving Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez brought out the virtual safety car. The pair were battling for third on the penultimate lap when they made contact and hit the wall.
The most consequential drama from the weekend unfolded in qualifying, when Norris didn't make it through the first round and was relegated to starting from the 16th position. He was originally going to start from 17th before Esteban Ocon was disqualified.
Norris trailed Max Verstappen by 62 points in the driver standings heading into Sunday's race, so his bid to dethrone the reigning champion suffered a serious setback thanks to his performance in qualifying.
A fourth-place showing was a missed opportunity considering Verstappen wound up in fifth.
Like Ocon, Lewis Hamilton had to begin the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pit lane, so any quest for the checkered flag was over before it started. He finished in ninth and was a non-factor for the most part.
Seven races are left in the F1 season with the Singapore Grand Prix now on tap. Verstappen has never won at Marina Bay Street Circuit, which will offer Norris and his fans a glimmer of hope the 24-year-old can trim the gap in the standings.
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