Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Hamilto

Winner Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium of the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on April 29, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV

Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Hamilton snatches victory in Baku

We have a new Championship leader.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Hamilto

Winner Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium of the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on April 29, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV

A drama-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first win of the season and also take the lead in the championship from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who only managed a fourth after a late mistake saw his chances of victory scuppered.

The streets of Baku delivered yet another thriller, with the safety car being deployed twice and seven drivers not finishing the race due to on-track incidents. However, China race-winners Red Bull suffered the most damage, as its drivers took each other out during a high-speed collision while fighting for fourth place in the closing stages of the race.

Hamilton took the lead on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, when his Mercedes team-mate, Valterri Bottas, retired with a puncture. Vettel, who pitted on lap 41 for Ultrasoft tyres during the second safety car period of the race, rejoined the race behind Bottas, who also made his one stop under the safety car.

It appeared that it would be a straight battle for the win between Vettel and Bottas to the end of the race after the safety car pulled into the pits, but as Vettel tried to lunge past Bottas for the lead, he locked up, running wide and flat-spotting his tyres. This dropped him to fifth, behind the Force India of Sergio Perez.

It was a disastrous afternoon for Red Bull – coming off a high from Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago – when Riccardo ran into the back of his team-mate, Max Verstappen, as he tried to overtake the young Dutchman. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, with Perez coming home third and giving Force India an unexpected podium.

Vettel finished fourth, Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jnr fifth and Charles Leclerc brought F1 minnows Sauber some much-needed points, with a brilliant sixth.

Fernando Alonso drove his McLaren to a well-earned seventh place, after suffering a double-puncture from being tagged on a chaotic opening lap and dropping to 17th. First-lap incidents also claimed the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Force India’s Esteban Ocon and brought out the first safety car.

The Azerbaijan race seemed to promise some wheel-to-wheel action between championship rivals Vettel and Hamilton, with the two qualifying first and second, respectively. However, Vettel opened up a significant lead over the two Mercedes in his opening stint, pitting on lap 30 and rejoining in second behind Bottas and ahead of Hamiton, who pitted a few laps earlier.

Bottas took advantage of the second safety car in the latter stages of the race, forcing Ferrari to react and bring Vettel in for his second stop. This gave Mercedes track advantage and ultimately forced Vettel into making an error.

Hamilton’s first win of the season also saw the Brit take lead from Vettel, with 70 to 66 point, while Raikkonen is third on 48 points and Bottas fourth on 40 points.

A drama-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first win of the season and also take the lead in the championship from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who only managed a fourth after a late mistake saw his chances of victory scuppered.

The streets of Baku delivered yet another thriller, with the safety car being deployed twice and seven drivers not finishing the race due to on-track incidents. However, China race-winners Red Bull suffered the most damage, as its drivers took each other out during a high-speed collision while fighting for fourth place in the closing stages of the race.

Hamilton took the lead on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, when his Mercedes team-mate, Valterri Bottas, retired with a puncture. Vettel, who pitted on lap 41 for Ultrasoft tyres during the second safety car period of the race, rejoined the race behind Bottas, who also made his one stop under the safety car.

It appeared that it would be a straight battle for the win between Vettel and Bottas to the end of the race after the safety car pulled into the pits, but as Vettel tried to lunge past Bottas for the lead, he locked up, running wide and flat-spotting his tyres. This dropped him to fifth, behind the Force India of Sergio Perez.

It was a disastrous afternoon for Red Bull – coming off a high from Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago – when Riccardo ran into the back of his team-mate, Max Verstappen, as he tried to overtake the young Dutchman. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, with Perez coming home third and giving Force India an unexpected podium.

Vettel finished fourth, Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jnr fifth and Charles Leclerc brought F1 minnows Sauber some much-needed points, with a brilliant sixth.

Fernando Alonso drove his McLaren to a well-earned seventh place, after suffering a double-puncture from being tagged on a chaotic opening lap and dropping to 17th. First-lap incidents also claimed the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Force India’s Esteban Ocon and brought out the first safety car.

The Azerbaijan race seemed to promise some wheel-to-wheel action between championship rivals Vettel and Hamilton, with the two qualifying first and second, respectively. However, Vettel opened up a significant lead over the two Mercedes in his opening stint, pitting on lap 30 and rejoining in second behind Bottas and ahead of Hamiton, who pitted a few laps earlier.

Bottas took advantage of the second safety car in the latter stages of the race, forcing Ferrari to react and bring Vettel in for his second stop. This gave Mercedes track advantage and ultimately forced Vettel into making an error.

Hamilton’s first win of the season also saw the Brit take lead from Vettel, with 70 to 66 point, while Raikkonen is third on 48 points and Bottas fourth on 40 points.

A drama-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first win of the season and also take the lead in the championship from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who only managed a fourth after a late mistake saw his chances of victory scuppered.

The streets of Baku delivered yet another thriller, with the safety car being deployed twice and seven drivers not finishing the race due to on-track incidents. However, China race-winners Red Bull suffered the most damage, as its drivers took each other out during a high-speed collision while fighting for fourth place in the closing stages of the race.

Hamilton took the lead on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, when his Mercedes team-mate, Valterri Bottas, retired with a puncture. Vettel, who pitted on lap 41 for Ultrasoft tyres during the second safety car period of the race, rejoined the race behind Bottas, who also made his one stop under the safety car.

It appeared that it would be a straight battle for the win between Vettel and Bottas to the end of the race after the safety car pulled into the pits, but as Vettel tried to lunge past Bottas for the lead, he locked up, running wide and flat-spotting his tyres. This dropped him to fifth, behind the Force India of Sergio Perez.

It was a disastrous afternoon for Red Bull – coming off a high from Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago – when Riccardo ran into the back of his team-mate, Max Verstappen, as he tried to overtake the young Dutchman. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, with Perez coming home third and giving Force India an unexpected podium.

Vettel finished fourth, Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jnr fifth and Charles Leclerc brought F1 minnows Sauber some much-needed points, with a brilliant sixth.

Fernando Alonso drove his McLaren to a well-earned seventh place, after suffering a double-puncture from being tagged on a chaotic opening lap and dropping to 17th. First-lap incidents also claimed the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Force India’s Esteban Ocon and brought out the first safety car.

The Azerbaijan race seemed to promise some wheel-to-wheel action between championship rivals Vettel and Hamilton, with the two qualifying first and second, respectively. However, Vettel opened up a significant lead over the two Mercedes in his opening stint, pitting on lap 30 and rejoining in second behind Bottas and ahead of Hamiton, who pitted a few laps earlier.

Bottas took advantage of the second safety car in the latter stages of the race, forcing Ferrari to react and bring Vettel in for his second stop. This gave Mercedes track advantage and ultimately forced Vettel into making an error.

Hamilton’s first win of the season also saw the Brit take lead from Vettel, with 70 to 66 point, while Raikkonen is third on 48 points and Bottas fourth on 40 points.

A drama-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first win of the season and also take the lead in the championship from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who only managed a fourth after a late mistake saw his chances of victory scuppered.

The streets of Baku delivered yet another thriller, with the safety car being deployed twice and seven drivers not finishing the race due to on-track incidents. However, China race-winners Red Bull suffered the most damage, as its drivers took each other out during a high-speed collision while fighting for fourth place in the closing stages of the race.

Hamilton took the lead on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, when his Mercedes team-mate, Valterri Bottas, retired with a puncture. Vettel, who pitted on lap 41 for Ultrasoft tyres during the second safety car period of the race, rejoined the race behind Bottas, who also made his one stop under the safety car.

It appeared that it would be a straight battle for the win between Vettel and Bottas to the end of the race after the safety car pulled into the pits, but as Vettel tried to lunge past Bottas for the lead, he locked up, running wide and flat-spotting his tyres. This dropped him to fifth, behind the Force India of Sergio Perez.

It was a disastrous afternoon for Red Bull – coming off a high from Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago – when Riccardo ran into the back of his team-mate, Max Verstappen, as he tried to overtake the young Dutchman. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, with Perez coming home third and giving Force India an unexpected podium.

Vettel finished fourth, Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jnr fifth and Charles Leclerc brought F1 minnows Sauber some much-needed points, with a brilliant sixth.

Fernando Alonso drove his McLaren to a well-earned seventh place, after suffering a double-puncture from being tagged on a chaotic opening lap and dropping to 17th. First-lap incidents also claimed the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Force India’s Esteban Ocon and brought out the first safety car.

The Azerbaijan race seemed to promise some wheel-to-wheel action between championship rivals Vettel and Hamilton, with the two qualifying first and second, respectively. However, Vettel opened up a significant lead over the two Mercedes in his opening stint, pitting on lap 30 and rejoining in second behind Bottas and ahead of Hamiton, who pitted a few laps earlier.

Bottas took advantage of the second safety car in the latter stages of the race, forcing Ferrari to react and bring Vettel in for his second stop. This gave Mercedes track advantage and ultimately forced Vettel into making an error.

Hamilton’s first win of the season also saw the Brit take lead from Vettel, with 70 to 66 point, while Raikkonen is third on 48 points and Bottas fourth on 40 points.

A drama-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first win of the season and also take the lead in the championship from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who only managed a fourth after a late mistake saw his chances of victory scuppered.

The streets of Baku delivered yet another thriller, with the safety car being deployed twice and seven drivers not finishing the race due to on-track incidents. However, China race-winners Red Bull suffered the most damage, as its drivers took each other out during a high-speed collision while fighting for fourth place in the closing stages of the race.

Hamilton took the lead on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, when his Mercedes team-mate, Valterri Bottas, retired with a puncture. Vettel, who pitted on lap 41 for Ultrasoft tyres during the second safety car period of the race, rejoined the race behind Bottas, who also made his one stop under the safety car.

It appeared that it would be a straight battle for the win between Vettel and Bottas to the end of the race after the safety car pulled into the pits, but as Vettel tried to lunge past Bottas for the lead, he locked up, running wide and flat-spotting his tyres. This dropped him to fifth, behind the Force India of Sergio Perez.

It was a disastrous afternoon for Red Bull – coming off a high from Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago – when Riccardo ran into the back of his team-mate, Max Verstappen, as he tried to overtake the young Dutchman. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, with Perez coming home third and giving Force India an unexpected podium.

Vettel finished fourth, Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jnr fifth and Charles Leclerc brought F1 minnows Sauber some much-needed points, with a brilliant sixth.

Fernando Alonso drove his McLaren to a well-earned seventh place, after suffering a double-puncture from being tagged on a chaotic opening lap and dropping to 17th. First-lap incidents also claimed the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Force India’s Esteban Ocon and brought out the first safety car.

The Azerbaijan race seemed to promise some wheel-to-wheel action between championship rivals Vettel and Hamilton, with the two qualifying first and second, respectively. However, Vettel opened up a significant lead over the two Mercedes in his opening stint, pitting on lap 30 and rejoining in second behind Bottas and ahead of Hamiton, who pitted a few laps earlier.

Bottas took advantage of the second safety car in the latter stages of the race, forcing Ferrari to react and bring Vettel in for his second stop. This gave Mercedes track advantage and ultimately forced Vettel into making an error.

Hamilton’s first win of the season also saw the Brit take lead from Vettel, with 70 to 66 point, while Raikkonen is third on 48 points and Bottas fourth on 40 points.

A drama-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first win of the season and also take the lead in the championship from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who only managed a fourth after a late mistake saw his chances of victory scuppered.

The streets of Baku delivered yet another thriller, with the safety car being deployed twice and seven drivers not finishing the race due to on-track incidents. However, China race-winners Red Bull suffered the most damage, as its drivers took each other out during a high-speed collision while fighting for fourth place in the closing stages of the race.

Hamilton took the lead on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, when his Mercedes team-mate, Valterri Bottas, retired with a puncture. Vettel, who pitted on lap 41 for Ultrasoft tyres during the second safety car period of the race, rejoined the race behind Bottas, who also made his one stop under the safety car.

It appeared that it would be a straight battle for the win between Vettel and Bottas to the end of the race after the safety car pulled into the pits, but as Vettel tried to lunge past Bottas for the lead, he locked up, running wide and flat-spotting his tyres. This dropped him to fifth, behind the Force India of Sergio Perez.

It was a disastrous afternoon for Red Bull – coming off a high from Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago – when Riccardo ran into the back of his team-mate, Max Verstappen, as he tried to overtake the young Dutchman. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, with Perez coming home third and giving Force India an unexpected podium.

Vettel finished fourth, Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jnr fifth and Charles Leclerc brought F1 minnows Sauber some much-needed points, with a brilliant sixth.

Fernando Alonso drove his McLaren to a well-earned seventh place, after suffering a double-puncture from being tagged on a chaotic opening lap and dropping to 17th. First-lap incidents also claimed the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Force India’s Esteban Ocon and brought out the first safety car.

The Azerbaijan race seemed to promise some wheel-to-wheel action between championship rivals Vettel and Hamilton, with the two qualifying first and second, respectively. However, Vettel opened up a significant lead over the two Mercedes in his opening stint, pitting on lap 30 and rejoining in second behind Bottas and ahead of Hamiton, who pitted a few laps earlier.

Bottas took advantage of the second safety car in the latter stages of the race, forcing Ferrari to react and bring Vettel in for his second stop. This gave Mercedes track advantage and ultimately forced Vettel into making an error.

Hamilton’s first win of the season also saw the Brit take lead from Vettel, with 70 to 66 point, while Raikkonen is third on 48 points and Bottas fourth on 40 points.

A drama-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first win of the season and also take the lead in the championship from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who only managed a fourth after a late mistake saw his chances of victory scuppered.

The streets of Baku delivered yet another thriller, with the safety car being deployed twice and seven drivers not finishing the race due to on-track incidents. However, China race-winners Red Bull suffered the most damage, as its drivers took each other out during a high-speed collision while fighting for fourth place in the closing stages of the race.

Hamilton took the lead on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, when his Mercedes team-mate, Valterri Bottas, retired with a puncture. Vettel, who pitted on lap 41 for Ultrasoft tyres during the second safety car period of the race, rejoined the race behind Bottas, who also made his one stop under the safety car.

It appeared that it would be a straight battle for the win between Vettel and Bottas to the end of the race after the safety car pulled into the pits, but as Vettel tried to lunge past Bottas for the lead, he locked up, running wide and flat-spotting his tyres. This dropped him to fifth, behind the Force India of Sergio Perez.

It was a disastrous afternoon for Red Bull – coming off a high from Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago – when Riccardo ran into the back of his team-mate, Max Verstappen, as he tried to overtake the young Dutchman. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, with Perez coming home third and giving Force India an unexpected podium.

Vettel finished fourth, Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jnr fifth and Charles Leclerc brought F1 minnows Sauber some much-needed points, with a brilliant sixth.

Fernando Alonso drove his McLaren to a well-earned seventh place, after suffering a double-puncture from being tagged on a chaotic opening lap and dropping to 17th. First-lap incidents also claimed the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Force India’s Esteban Ocon and brought out the first safety car.

The Azerbaijan race seemed to promise some wheel-to-wheel action between championship rivals Vettel and Hamilton, with the two qualifying first and second, respectively. However, Vettel opened up a significant lead over the two Mercedes in his opening stint, pitting on lap 30 and rejoining in second behind Bottas and ahead of Hamiton, who pitted a few laps earlier.

Bottas took advantage of the second safety car in the latter stages of the race, forcing Ferrari to react and bring Vettel in for his second stop. This gave Mercedes track advantage and ultimately forced Vettel into making an error.

Hamilton’s first win of the season also saw the Brit take lead from Vettel, with 70 to 66 point, while Raikkonen is third on 48 points and Bottas fourth on 40 points.

A drama-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first win of the season and also take the lead in the championship from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who only managed a fourth after a late mistake saw his chances of victory scuppered.

The streets of Baku delivered yet another thriller, with the safety car being deployed twice and seven drivers not finishing the race due to on-track incidents. However, China race-winners Red Bull suffered the most damage, as its drivers took each other out during a high-speed collision while fighting for fourth place in the closing stages of the race.

Hamilton took the lead on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, when his Mercedes team-mate, Valterri Bottas, retired with a puncture. Vettel, who pitted on lap 41 for Ultrasoft tyres during the second safety car period of the race, rejoined the race behind Bottas, who also made his one stop under the safety car.

It appeared that it would be a straight battle for the win between Vettel and Bottas to the end of the race after the safety car pulled into the pits, but as Vettel tried to lunge past Bottas for the lead, he locked up, running wide and flat-spotting his tyres. This dropped him to fifth, behind the Force India of Sergio Perez.

It was a disastrous afternoon for Red Bull – coming off a high from Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago – when Riccardo ran into the back of his team-mate, Max Verstappen, as he tried to overtake the young Dutchman. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, with Perez coming home third and giving Force India an unexpected podium.

Vettel finished fourth, Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jnr fifth and Charles Leclerc brought F1 minnows Sauber some much-needed points, with a brilliant sixth.

Fernando Alonso drove his McLaren to a well-earned seventh place, after suffering a double-puncture from being tagged on a chaotic opening lap and dropping to 17th. First-lap incidents also claimed the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Force India’s Esteban Ocon and brought out the first safety car.

The Azerbaijan race seemed to promise some wheel-to-wheel action between championship rivals Vettel and Hamilton, with the two qualifying first and second, respectively. However, Vettel opened up a significant lead over the two Mercedes in his opening stint, pitting on lap 30 and rejoining in second behind Bottas and ahead of Hamiton, who pitted a few laps earlier.

Bottas took advantage of the second safety car in the latter stages of the race, forcing Ferrari to react and bring Vettel in for his second stop. This gave Mercedes track advantage and ultimately forced Vettel into making an error.

Hamilton’s first win of the season also saw the Brit take lead from Vettel, with 70 to 66 point, while Raikkonen is third on 48 points and Bottas fourth on 40 points.