Oscar Piastri won his second Formula One race in Baku, Azerbaijan on Sunday night, moving McLaren into the lead in the Constructors’ Championship with seven races remaining in the 2024 season.
What happened
Pisatri was second-fastest in qualifying and started the race alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who took pole position.
Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris started the race in 15th, just days after McLaren made it known to the public that Piastri would be playing second fiddle to the Brit in the team’s bid for the Constructors and Individual Championships.
Leclerc led the race through the streets of Baku until the 20th lap where Piastri overtook him on the inside of turn one.
Piastri was able to hold on under immense pressure from Leclerc and drive to his second victory in Formula One.
Norris moved from 15th to fourth place, overcoming rival Max Verstappen in fifth, to keep his chances of winning the Individual Driver Championship this season alive.
There was late drama as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez collided.
Standings
McLaren now leads Red Bull in the Constructors Championship by 20 points. The change in lead marks the first time Red Bull has not led since May 2022. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is still on top in the Driver Standings, ahead of Norris by 59 points.
What they said
Piastri said: “That ranks as probably the best win of my career. Trying to soak up that pressure for so long, that was incredibly tough. I saw an opportunity or half an opportunity after the pit stop and knew I had to try and take it. I knew that getting to the lead was going to be one thing, but I knew I had my work cut out for me after that.”
Norris said: “It was a good result for us as a team. Oscar, I’m even happier for. For McLaren to be on top of the constructors’ [standings] for the first time in many, many years. To play a part in that is fantastic.”
What’s next?
Formula One now heads to Singapore to race on the Marina Bay Street Circuit next Sunday 22 September.
