The 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP Results are finally out after a dramatic 51-lap race at the Baku City Circuit. George Russell converted his pole position into victory for Mercedes, holding off late pressure from Max Verstappen to take the chequered flag by just 0.196 seconds.
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Russell controlled a large part of the race from the front, but the Azerbaijan Grand Prix became increasingly tense during the closing stages. Multiple incidents and Safety Car restarts added further drama, while Verstappen remained in contention until the finish. The Mercedes driver ultimately secured his third victory of the 2026 F1 season.
Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, while Isack Hadjar completed the podium in an impressive P3. The result gave Red Bull a double podium, with Hadjar producing a strong drive after starting from fourth on the grid.
Also Read: F1 Azerbaijan GP Race LIVE: Latest Updates, Results & Highlights
2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP Results: Russell Takes Victory
George Russell started the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole and made the most of his front-row position. The Mercedes driver maintained the lead through the opening stages and gradually built an advantage over the chasing pack.
Oscar Piastri initially moved into second position at the start, but Verstappen soon worked his way through the field. The Red Bull driver overtook Charles Leclerc and later Isack Hadjar, putting himself into P2 behind Russell.
The race became particularly interesting in the second half, with Russell continuing to maintain a significant advantage. However, late-race incidents brought the Safety Car into play and reduced the gap at the front.
Despite the pressure, Russell kept his composure through the restarts and eventually crossed the finish line first.
Verstappen Finishes Second, Hadjar Completes Podium
Max Verstappen had to settle for second place after coming close to challenging Russell for victory. The Red Bull driver showed strong pace during the race and recovered well after starting from P8.
Verstappen’s progress was one of the major storylines of the race. After qualifying eighth despite topping FP3, he steadily moved forward during the opening laps before eventually reaching second place.
Isack Hadjar produced one of the standout performances of the race by finishing third. The Racing Bulls driver initially moved ahead of Charles Leclerc during the opening laps before later being passed by Verstappen.
Hadjar’s P3 finish also gave Red Bull a double podium in Baku.
Antonelli Recovers From P16 to Finish Fifth
Kimi Antonelli delivered an impressive recovery drive after starting the Azerbaijan GP from P16 following his Q1 crash in qualifying.
The championship leader steadily moved through the field during the race and eventually finished fifth for Mercedes. He crossed the line behind Charles Leclerc, who secured fourth place for Ferrari.
Antonelli’s recovery was particularly notable considering where he started, with the Mercedes driver gaining multiple positions during the 51-lap race.
Lewis Hamilton finished sixth for Ferrari, followed by Arvid Lindblad in seventh. Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman finished eighth and ninth respectively, while Carlos Sainz completed the top 10 for Williams.
Also Read: F1 Azerbaijan GP Qualifying Results: Russell Pole, Leclerc P2, Verstappen P8
Oscar Piastri Drops to P14 After Early Podium Fight
Oscar Piastri had initially moved into second place at the start and looked set for a strong result. However, the McLaren driver’s race eventually unravelled and he finished only P14.
Lando Norris had an even more difficult afternoon. The reigning world champion was classified P19, while the other McLaren was unable to convert its strong starting position into a points finish.
The Azerbaijan GP therefore produced a major shake-up compared with the starting order, with several drivers gaining or losing significant positions during the race.
2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Gap/Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | Lap 51 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.196s |
| 3 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +10.704s |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +14.136s |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +14.512s |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +22.382s |
| 7 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | +31.159s |
| 8 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +31.189s |
| 9 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +31.929s |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +32.416s |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | +33.231s |
| 12 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +34.013s |
| 13 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +34.230s |
| 14 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +36.401s |
| 15 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | +41.400s |
| 16 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | Classified |
| 17 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | DNF |
| 18 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | Classified |
| 19 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Classified |
| 20 | Alexander Albon | Williams | Classified |
| 21 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | DNF |
| 22 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | DNF |
Multiple Incidents Shape Azerbaijan GP
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was far from straightforward, with several incidents affecting the final classification.
Lance Stroll was one of the early retirements after being instructed to stop his Aston Martin. Later in the race, Franco Colapinto also retired after damage to his Alpine became too severe to continue.
There was also drama involving the two Racing Bulls drivers, with Arvid Lindblad making contact with teammate Liam Lawson during the race. The incident added another twist to an already eventful afternoon in Baku.
Valtteri Bottas also crashed at Turn 15 on the final lap, although the incident came right at the end of the race.
Russell Secures Third Win of 2026
With the Azerbaijan GP victory, George Russell adds another win to his 2026 campaign and completes a successful weekend after taking pole position in qualifying.
The Mercedes driver had already shown strong pace throughout the weekend, topping both FP1 and FP2 before converting pole into race victory.
For Verstappen, second place represents a strong recovery from P8 on the grid, while Hadjar’s podium becomes one of the biggest highlights of the Baku weekend.
The 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP Results therefore end with Russell on top, Verstappen second and Hadjar completing the podium after a dramatic 51-lap battle around the Baku City Circuit.
Auto India Daily Verdict
2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP Results: The Azerbaijan Grand Prix delivered plenty of twists, from Verstappen’s recovery to P2 and Hadjar’s podium to Antonelli’s impressive climb from P16 to fifth. Russell’s ability to manage the late Safety Car restarts and hold onto the lead ultimately secured Mercedes another major victory in the 2026 season.
For the full championship picture, the next round will be particularly important as the leading drivers continue their fight for the 2026 F1 title.
Also Read: F1 Azerbaijan GP FP3 Results: Max Verstappen Fastest, Russell P2 & Hamilton P3 in Baku
Raj Prajapati is a Senior Automotive Content Writer at AutoIndiaDaily. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, he leverages over four years of experience covering Indian car and bike launches, EV tech, and market dynamics to break down complex automotive regulations into simple consumer guides. Specialising in Indian motor vehicle laws, IRDAI updates, and ownership costs, Raj translates technical auto policies into actionable advice for everyday drivers.