The Return of a Title Outsider?

Max Verstappen claimed a dominant victory at the 2025 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on another hugely consequential day in the title race

- Report: Gaurav Davare

FOR A WHILE SINCE THE end of the summer break for the 2025 Formula 1 season, it has been a relatively private battle for the world drivers' championship between the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with the reigning four-time world champion, Max Verstappen (Oracle Red Bull Racing), running a relatively lonely third. Sure, Verstappen did take the win at Monza, but helping his case were the track characteristics that suited the Red Bull RB21. The Baku street circuit, however, was a different kettle of fish with a mix of long straights and tight twisty sections. For many years, this circuit has served up dramatic race weekends, and the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was no exception. In fact, it could be described as the craziest one of them all.

Even before the race, qualifying proved to be carnage personified as the challenging layout and minor threats of rain meant we saw up to six red flag stoppages, the most for any qualifying session. One of the causes for the red flag was championship leader Oscar Piastri bashing it into the wall before completing a qualifying lap, and being relegated to ninth on the grid. This was a huge opportunity for teammate and title rival Norris to capitalise, but a sub-optimal lap meant he qualified seventh. But the one who took full advantage was Verstappen, who took pole position. There were even more surprises as Carlos Sainz (Williams Racing) and Liam Lawson (Visa CashApp RB) qualified second and third, respectively, on the grid.