Sergio Pérez makes the title fight even more exciting in Azerbaijan with the help of the Safety Car | Formula 1

Charles Leclerc was allowed to start his fourth Grand Prix of the season from pole position, and once again he was unable to capitalize on pole position.

Also in Baku, the Ferrari driver had to admit his superiority to the more energetic Red Bulls. In the opening laps Leclerc was able to hold on to his pole position, once the drivers were allowed to use DRS it was a birdie for the cat.

With the rear wing open, Red Bull was going about 30 km/h faster on the straights. First, Leclerc saw world champion Max Verstappen skip the race, then Sergio Perez followed suit.

Image source: Play Sports

Everything went according to Max Verstappen’s plan. Until he went into the pits when his countryman Nyck de Vries pulled up in front of his car.

Unfortunate stop, because the whole group then went to the center during a safe car park. Verstappen dropped to 3.

At the start of the second half he immediately passed Leclerc again. Next task: stop teammate Sergio Perez.

Image source: Play Sports

Sergio Pérez didn’t intend (anymore) to play second fiddle to Red Bull and utterly ignored it. Max Verstappen hasn’t come closer than a second.

Number 1 was looking for boundaries, even hitting the wall, but couldn’t catch Perez. The Mexican snuck away to his second victory this season (after Saudi Arabia).

Double, because yesterday Perez won the sprint race in Baku. In the World Cup standings, he now trails Verstappen by 6 points.

He drove Charles Leclerc to his first podium of the season. Monegasque managed to keep the Aston Martin from Fernando Alonso in AZE.

Next week the Formula 1 drivers will perform in Miami.