Oscar Piastri WINS the Azerbaijan GP after Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez CRASH in dramatic end which sees Charles Leclerc and George Russell also finish on the podium

Oscar Piastri won a pulsating Azerbaijan Grand Prix in the ‘wrong’ McLaren – a stunning, statement victory by him and graphic reminder of what might have been for Lando Norris.

This was billed as the latest weekend in which Norris – who drove this race in Baku with tenacity and distinction to finish fourth after a late drama lifted him up two spots, a place ahead of Verstappen – could take a giant stride in his title bid, and how he could have done but for flunking qualifying and starting 15th.

Instead, it was a brilliant win for the 23-year-old Australian Piastri – the second of his career, the first having come in Hungary in July. 

It was superb because he took the lead in dramatic style by passing Charle Leclerc, the tireless and relentless runner-up. Piastri caught the Monegasque unawares at the first corner on lap 20 of 51. 

How Leclerc must have been kicking himself for not seeing the orange flame of the McLaren throwing itself his way.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri passed the chequered flag first followed by Charles Leclerc in second

Piastri took the race lead at the first corner on lap 20 of 51 catching the Monegasque unaware

Piastri then defended like there was no tomorrow as Leclerc’s red Ferrari flashed again and again like a warning light in his mirrors.

Leclerc had started on pole and is so fast here. He had demonstrated that all weekend and in taking four poles here, none of them converted into wins.

As for Norris, who has found the world championship talk a burden these past first weeks, it was always going to take a stroke of luck to promote him up the field after he ran wide in qualifying before a yellow flag further hindered his chance of escaping from Q1.

At least two engine changes, and this grid penalties above – to Esteban Ocon’s Alpine and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes – elevated him two places before the lights went out.

Make no mistake, Norris drove very finely indeed on the day, as he has for most of the season. He was off quickly. Who would have thought he hadn’t gained a place on the opening lap all season?

Lando Norris clawed his way from the back of the grid to finish 4th in Baku ahead of championship rival Max Verstappen

By the first corner, he had gobbled up Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg and RB’s Daniel Ricciardo. No problems. He had a fine car – as he and his garage-mate showed all afternoon – but he used it clinically.

He was shod on hard tyres at the start, unlike any of the top eight. McLaren had to try something different given where he started. 

He made them last 37 laps and held off Verstappen, on fresher rubber, before his late stop.

A safety car at a timely moment, however, was Norris’s only chance of pulling off the great escape rather than his successful damage limitation-plus.

When Norris emerged from his stop, he was lying seventh, 14 seconds behind Verstappen with 14 laps to go. He took out huge chunks. 

Verstappen was struggling in that Red Bull and Norris passed the man who is likely to take his fourth world title at Turn 1 of lap 49.

Verstappen was struggling in that Red Bull and Norris passed the man who is likely to take his fourth world title at Turn 1 of lap 49.

Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez was within two seconds, and often less, of the two warriors battling it out for the lead for almost the whole race. 

It was a fine performance by him until he and Carlos Sainz collided at the death.

 Perez moved over into the Ferrari, the interlocked and ended up in a heap at the side. Neither was seriously hurt.

Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz collided at the death on lap 50 of 51

A virtual safety car was deployed. Too late for Norris, but he still took a nibble out of Verstappen’s lead. 

Also taking the fastest lap, the Briton is now down from a gap of 62 to 59 points to the Dutchman with seven rounds remaining and 206 points on offer.

George Russell took third place for Mercedes after the late drama.

Fellow Englishman Ollie Beaman, on his Haas debut as a replacement for the suspended Kevin Magnussen, scored an encouraging point by finishing 10th.