George Russell wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli extends championship lead

Mercedes driver George Russell secured his third victory of the 2026 Formula One season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on Saturday. Starting from pole position, the 28-year-old Briton controlled the race to finish ahead of Max Verstappen, who took second, and his Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar, who rounded out the podium.

The weekend proved difficult for championship leader Kimi Antonelli. After suffering a hydraulic issue during Thursday practice and crashing into a wall at Turn One during Friday’s qualifying, the 20-year-old Italian was forced to start the race from 16th on the grid. Despite contact with a Haas car during the race, Antonelli managed a recovery drive to finish fifth.

This result narrowed Antonelli's lead in the world championship standings over Russell from 81 points to 66 points. Antonelli described the event as the worst weekend of his season, noting a lack of confidence and feeling consistently off the pace compared to his previous performances. With eight wins already this year, the Italian remains the clear frontrunner as the season progresses.