McLaren overtakes Red Bull in a dramatic shift at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
In short: The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix reshaped the Formula One landscape, ending Red Bull Racing's long-standing dominance in the Constructors' Championship. Oscar Piastri secured his second career victory, while a late-race collision between Carlos Sainz Jr. and Sergio Pérez allowed McLaren to seize the lead for the first time since 2014.
The race at the Baku City Circuit on 15 September 2024 marked the seventeenth round of the season and the seventh running of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc, who had claimed pole position for the fourth consecutive year, ultimately finished second behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri. The event was notable for its shift to a September slot, part of a broader regionalisation effort by Formula One to streamline the calendar after the European races.
The championship standings saw a historic pivot. McLaren entered the weekend trailing Red Bull Racing by 8 points, but the race results propelled them to a 20-point lead. This transition ended Red Bull's hold on the top spot, which they had maintained since the 2022 Miami Grand Prix. For McLaren, it was their first time leading the standings since the 2014 Australian Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Lando Norris, who recovered from a 15th-place start to finish fourth, successfully narrowed his deficit to Max Verstappen in the Drivers' Championship to 59 points.
Chaos on the penultimate lap defined the race's conclusion. A collision between Carlos Sainz Jr. and Sergio Pérez, while the pair fought for third place, forced both to retire and triggered a virtual safety car that ended the race. George Russell inherited the final podium position as a result. Further down the field, Williams achieved a season-best performance with both drivers scoring points, including Franco Colapinto, who became the first Argentine driver to score in Formula One since Carlos Reutemann in 1982. The event also featured the use of Pirelli's softest tyre compounds and an extended DRS zone to encourage overtaking on the technical street circuit.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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