Formula 1: Australian racer Piastri wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Australian driver Oscar Piastri of McLaren has become the winner of the Grand Prix of Azerbaijan Formula 1, held on September 15 in Baku.

Piastri's impressive performance secured him first place, with Monegasque Charles Leclerc from Ferrari finishing in second, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

British driver George Russell of Mercedes completed the top three.

The race saw a dramatic turn on the 50th lap when Red Bull's Sergio Perez caused a crash by colliding with the rear left tyre of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, leading to significant disruptions in the race. Despite the incident, Piastri managed to maintain his lead and claim the victory.

Following his victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri described the race as one of the best of his career.

The 23-year-old Australian racer reflected on the thrilling contest, noting that the final laps were somewhat less challenging as he managed to pull ahead decisively.

Piastri expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their current lead in the Constructors' Cup as a remarkable achievement.

“Now we are leading in the Constructors Cup. Twelve months ago such results were impossible. This is a great teamwork,” Piastri commented, underscoring the significant progress made over the past year.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw a competitive finish, with Monegasque Charles Leclerc of Ferrari securing second place and British driver George Russell of Mercedes rounding out the top three.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024, which first debuted in 2017, is held on the Baku City Circuit, a renowned street circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. The race is set to remain at this venue until at least 2026.

The Baku City Circuit Operations Company anticipates a record-breaking global viewership for this year's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Approximately 300 journalists, including about 200 from international media outlets such as Sky Sports, Motorsport, Canal+, Netflix, and The Sun, are covering the event and bringing the excitement of the races on Baku’s streets to audiences worldwide.