Oscar Piastri Wins in Baku McLaren Takes Lead in Constructors'..

Oscar Piastri Wins in Baku, McLaren Takes Lead in Constructors’ Championship

In a dramatic race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured his second Formula 1 career victory, triumphing over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in a thrilling head-to-head battle. The Australian driver delivered an impressive performance around the streets of Baku, showcasing remarkable maturity and skill in just the early stages of his F1 career.

Piastri took control of the race after a strategic pit stop and held off consistent pressure from Leclerc, who remained a close competitor throughout the 51-lap event. The Ferrari driver came home second, narrowly missing out on victory but securing valuable points for his team. The race wasn’t without its dramatic moments, particularly involving the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who collided on the penultimate lap.

The incident between Sainz and Perez brought out a Virtual Safety Car, neutralizing the race just before its conclusion. This effectively handed Mercedes’ George Russell the third spot on the podium, as he avoided the late-race chaos. Russell had been running steadily in the top five throughout the afternoon and capitalized on the opportunity when it presented itself.

With 25 points from Piastri’s victory and an additional 13 points contributed by his teammate Lando Norris, who finished solidly in the points, McLaren has surged to the top of the Constructors’ Championship standings. This is the first time the Woking-based team has led the championship since the 2014 season opener in Australia, a significant achievement for the team as they continue their resurgence.

McLaren’s strong form in Baku, combined with the struggles of rivals Ferrari and Red Bull, now positions them as the team to beat as the season progresses. With Piastri’s rapid rise and Norris’ consistency, McLaren seems well poised to maintain their championship challenge in the races ahead.

This victory marks another milestone in Piastri’s flourishing career and underlines McLaren’s growing strength as they aim to remain at the forefront of Formula 1 this season.