Russell secured his third victory of the season after holding off Max Verstappen in the closing stages. The Mercedes driver crossed the finish line only 0.196 seconds ahead of Verstappen following a chaotic race that featured multiple incidents and six retirements.
Isack Hadjar completed the podium for Red Bull, while Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari. Antonelli recovered to fifth after starting from 16th place, limiting the damage to his championship lead.
The official Azerbaijan Grand Prix results confirmed Russell’s victory, with Verstappen and Hadjar completing the top three.
Russell’s win reduced Antonelli’s championship advantage from 81 points to 66. That remains a substantial lead, but the result has added fresh tension ahead of a demanding run of races.
Russell has also attempted to shift the pressure onto his Mercedes teammate, arguing that Antonelli has more to lose as the championship leader. The full comments were published in Formula 1’s official coverage of the title battle.
The next race will take place at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit from October 2 to 4, followed by the Singapore Grand Prix from October 9 to 11. Singapore will include a Sprint race, creating additional opportunities for drivers to gain—or lose—championship points.
Antonelli remains firmly in control of the standings, but Baku demonstrated how quickly the picture can change. A poor qualifying session, a mechanical problem or another Russell victory could increase the pressure significantly.
The championship is not yet balanced on a knife-edge, but it is no longer moving comfortably in only one direction.
