1st May 2023: Know about the latest wins from around the world in the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023 in the article ahead!
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who will also start Sunday's full-length race on the pole, was unable to fend off the speed of Red Bull's Sergio Perez in the 17-lap battle at the Baku City Circuit after having won the pole in F1's first-ever Sprint Shootout qualifying session earlier on Saturday.
After the leader of the world championship sustained damage from a first-lap collision with Mercedes' George Russell, who came in fourth, Leclerc just barely held off the other Red Bull of Max Verstappen for second.
Perez subsequently came under intense pressure for a few laps from his teammate, but he eventually drew away to win his second Grand Prix in Baku and second race of the weekend.
Verstappen ended in P2 behind Leclerc, who landed on the podium for the first time this season, with a deficit of 17 seconds. After a dismal start to the season, Ferrari's pressure will be temporarily lifted by that top-three finish.
At a Safety Car restart brought on by Yuki Tsunoda blowing a tire, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso overtook Lewis Hamilton to claim the sixth place, while Carlos Sainz finished fifth for Ferrari.
After recovering from slipping to 10th on the first lap, Alonso's teammate Lance Stroll claimed the last point available in eighth.
Leclerc will likely find it difficult to cling onto the top spot he attained in the Friday qualifying session that determined the starting grid for Sunday's race, given Red Bull's obvious long-term advantage.
On Sunday's front row, Verstappen and Leclerc will start right next to one other, with Sprint winner Perez starting in third.
Azerbaijan GP Sprint Results of the Top 10 racers are as follows:
1) Sergio Perez, Red Bull (8 points)
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (7 points)
3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull (6 points)
4) George Russell, Mercedes (5 points)
5) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari (4 points)
6) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin (3 points)
7) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (2 points)
8) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin (1 point)
9) Alexander Albon, Williams
10) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
