McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took a superb second career win in Formula 1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after first passing and then holding off polesitter Charles Leclerc.
Mercedes’ George Russell joined them on the podium after a dramatic late crash between Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz.
Leclerc had taken his fourth consecutive Baku pole on Saturday and looked good value to finally convert it into a first win on the high-speed street circuit.
The Ferrari driver kept the lead at the start from Piastri, with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez passing the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz for third.
As Perez failed an overtake on Leclerc on the penultimate lap, Sainz looked poised to benefit and slip past for third, but coming out of Turn 2 the pair tangled and made a hard crash into the wall.
Piastri headed Leclerc and Russell home under the virtual safety car, while Norris rounded off his comeback race in fourth.
Norris started on the hard tyres and was initially able to hold off Verstappen, who continued to struggle with rear-end bouncing. After finally making his lap 38 pitstop, Norris clawed back a 15-second deficit to repass Verstappen for fourth.
In the background Fernando Alonso rounded off a lonely race to sixth, holding off hard-tyre starter Alex Albon who had run as high as third in the first stint.
Rookies Franco Colapinto put in a commendable performance to follow Albon in eighth, taking points on his second grand prix outing.
Lewis Hamilton made a solid comeback from a pitlane start to finish ninth, after choosing to make engine and suspension changes overnight.
Impressive Oliver Bearman also took a maiden point for Haas, edging out his experienced team-mate Nico Hulkenberg for tenth.
