Max Verstappen scored an impressive pole position on Saturday, and followed it up with a commanding drive to take the win at the 2025 F1 Azerbaijan GP, in what he described as a “great weekend” for him and for his Red Bull team, with Yuki Tsunoda finding some form to take home a P6 finish as well.
He finished over 14 seconds clear of second-placed George Russell, and over 30 seconds clear of Lando Norris’ McLaren, a hot favourite heading into the weekend.
Qualifying on pole was “key” for winning
Qualifying took place in one of the most strange set of weather conditions F1’s seen in recent memory, with heavy gusts of wind and the occasional drops of rain making for a highly unpredictable affair on the already difficult streets of Baku.
But the reigning world champion rose to the occasion and took a sensational pole position – which he believes was the “key” to having such a straightforward race out in the lead, as he could extend his first stint and have an easier time towards the end of the race:
“I think overall, just a great weekend for us,” he said. “For sure starting up front was key, especially in the beginning, just managing your tyres to go long.
“But overall, very happy with how the race was going. I mean, I could go very long in that first stint. The car was doing pretty much what I wanted it to do. Just how much you commit, to push around here, which is not always easy with the layout of the track, the wind as well. It was quite tough today with that.
“We just stayed out until basically everyone pitted. And then there were only a few laps left on the medium, clearing a few backmarkers, which took a bit of time. But after that, just bringing it home.
“And for us, that’s another just great result. A bit unusual. This season has been really swinging left and right, but at least now, two weekends in a row, it’s been going really well.”
Starting on the hard tyres “not so much” of a risk
It is incredibly unusual to see the race leader start on the hardest compound available, but that’s exactly what Red Bull and Verstappen decided to do at the F1 Azerbaijan GP.
With a jumbled up grid, Verstappen had two slower cars in between himself and the first real threat from Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, which meant he could start on the hards without being punished for it.
He explained the biggest threat would come from an early safety car intervention or a good start from the cars behind, and otherwise was very confident it was the right strategic move:
“Well, not so much [of a risk],” he said. “From knowing how good it would be, it [was] more like the start or an untimely Safety Car.
“So as soon as we crossed, like, 20 laps into the race, I was a bit happier, but it was a bit of a risk. I think it’s a bit unusual, of course, when you’re on pole, to start on the hardest compound that is available.
“But we did it, and I think it was the right call. We said before the race, well, one way or another one strategy will work, and we’ll come out of the race happy with it. Luckily, we chose the right one.”
Championship charge back on?
With Oscar Piastri’s dramatic early DNF on the opening lap, it meant Verstappen had an open goal to take a massive 25 points out of the Australian’s lead at the top of the standings – which he duly did.
However, he’s well aware that the gap is still a bit too big to consider a proper fight just yet, and explained he’ll continue to have his usual approach of taking it “race-by-race“:
“I mean, I don’t rely on hope,” he said when asked if the championship was still possible. “But it’s seven rounds left – 69 points is a lot. So I personally don’t think about it.
“I just go race by race, what I have been doing basically the whole season — just trying to do the best we can, try to score the most points that we can.
“And then after Abu Dhabi, we’ll know.”
