Max Verstappen once again proved why he is regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers by securing a dominant victory at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held on the streets of Baku this Sunday. From the very beginning, the Dutchman made it clear that he would give no room to his rivals: he started from pole position, led all 51 laps of the race, and set the fastest lap, achieving the so-called “Grand Slam,” a rare feat reserved for weekends of absolute dominance.

The race began with unexpected drama as Oscar Piastri, current championship leader, suffered an issue at the start that led to a crash and his early retirement on the opening lap. The incident left Verstappen with a clear path to recover crucial points in the title fight, cutting into the gap still held by the Australian McLaren driver. Behind the Dutchman, George Russell delivered a solid performance to finish second despite competing while feeling unwell throughout the weekend.

The surprise of the day came from Carlos Sainz Jr., who achieved a historic podium for Williams by taking third place, marking the team’s first top-three finish since 2021. With this result, Verstappen narrows the standings, while McLaren missed the chance to secure the constructors’ championship in Baku, leaving the fight open for the final seven races and three sprint qualifiers. After crossing the checkered flag, Verstappen expressed his satisfaction:

“This weekend was incredible for us. The car performed very well with both tire compounds. Having clean air at all times allowed me to manage the tires and keep up the pace. It was a pretty straightforward race, and I’m happy to win again in Baku.” Formula 1 now looks ahead to the next stop on the calendar, where all eyes will be on whether Piastri can bounce back from the setback in Azerbaijan or if Verstappen confirms his comeback toward the championship.