Max Verstappen has extended his F1 championship lead with a record-breaking win in a disastrous race for Ferrari.
Max Verstappen has cruised to victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to extend his lead in the F1 drivers' championship.
It appeared Sergio Perez might be on course for back-to-back wins when he passed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on the opening corner of the race.
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But he couldn't match Verstappen's pace and was instructed not to fight with his Red Bull teammate, who passed the Mexican and was never headed.
Perez finished second, George Russell rounded out the podium in third and Lewis Hamilton overcame porpoising and a sore back to finish in fourth in an impressive drive.
Verstappen is now 21 points ahead of Perez in the drivers' standings and 34 points clear of Leclerc.
The race was an unmitigated disaster for Ferrari, with both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failing to finish the race.
Leclerc locked up on the first corner and he was forced to retire because of engine failure, while Sainz' run of horror luck continued when his car also suffered a mechanical failure.
Four cars with Ferrari-powered engines had to retire from the race which had five DNFs.
It was the worst possible result for Ferrari, who are now well behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship with Mercedes quickly making ground.
Verstappen's victory saw him break Sebastian Vettel's record for the most podiums ever for Red Bull. The Dutchman has now stepped on the podium 66 times from his 126 career races.
Daniel Ricciardo crossed the line in P8 to secure his second point finish of the season.
For much of the race, the Australian was in a tight battle with his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who finished just behind him in ninth.
Ricciardo had better pace than Norris early in the race but McLaren refused to let him pass Norris. Ricciardo eventually got in front of Norris by staying on his hard tyres for a long first stint and pitting during a safety car period.
The F1 season continues next weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix results
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3. George Russell, Mercedes
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
5. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
6. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
7. Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
9. Lando Norris, McLaren
10. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Max Verstappen is cruising to victory with a massive lead ahead of Sergio Perez, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Daniel Ricciardo is in eighth position and is trying to chase down Alpine's Fernando Alonso, as McLaren's Lando Norris is slowly closing in on Ricciardo with just a few laps remaining.
Daniel Ricciardo is putting in a much improved performance after starting on hard tyres in Baku.
He is in sixth place and is yet to pit halfway through the race.
But he could be in an even better position if he had been allowed to pass Lando Norris.
Ricciardo had better pace than Norris but McLaren refused to let him through, meaning he couldn't make the most of his speed.
"If I sit behind any longer any longer I'll get eaten up by Gasly," Ricciardo told team radio after he was told he shouldn't overtake Norris.
After Norris pitted, the Aussie was soon passed by Pierre Gasly and then by Lewis Hamilton.
After Ricciardo says “I’ve got more pace” …. In the weeks after McLaren says it’s been disappointed by his performances #AzerbaijanGP #BakuGP #F1 https://t.co/5gYr1fOEJK
— Daniel Miles (@danielmiles) June 12, 2022
This race is an unmitigated disaster for Ferrari after Charles Leclerc was forced out of when he suffered engine failure.
Carlos Sainz retired earlier with a mechanical failure.
It's a huge blow to Leclerc and Ferrari's championship hopes in the battle with Red Bull.
Red Bull is well and truly in control of the Grand Prix after Max Verstappen passed teammate Sergio Perez to take the lead a third of the way through the race.
"No fighting," Perez was told over team radio.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz' horror run of luck has continued after he was forced to retire due to a mechanical failure with his Ferrari on lap 9.
Sebastian Vettel did well to avoid crashing when his Aston Martin spun out.
Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris are in a battle after they both started the race outside the top 10.
Ricciardo wanted to overtake Norris but he was given team orders to back off.
"If this is his best pace, I've got more," a frustrated Ricciardo said on team radio.
Lando, Daniel is faster than you.#BakuGP #F1
— Quintanilha (@QuintaSergio) June 12, 2022
Daniel Ricciardo has been told to hold position behind Lando Norris. We're seven laps in.#AzerbaijanGP #F1
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) June 12, 2022
Ricciardo in search of pace all year: yes, found it!
— Rory Flanagan (@Rory_Flanagan) June 12, 2022
McLaren: stop, slow down pls. #AzerbaijanGP #f1
Two weeks after winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Sergio Perez has kept his red-hot form going with a flying start in Azerbaijan.
Starting second on the grid, Perez got off to a flyer and passed Charles Leclerc at Turn 1 as the Ferrari's tyres locked up.
Well well well Sergio Perez 🔥
— Christian Hewgill 🎙 (@ChrisHewgill) June 12, 2022
Not bad for a number 2 driver… #AzerbaijanGP #F1
Perez now has some breathing room out in the lead, while Max Verstappen is hot on the heels of Leclerc.
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