Formula 1 News: What we learned from the 2025 Azerbaijan GP

The 2025 Azerbaijan GP may go down as a pivotal moment in the 2025 Formula 1 season, reshaping the championship battle. Here are five key takeaways from a dramatic weekend in Baku:

–by Mark Cipolloni–

1. Max Verstappen Might be Back in the Fight

Never count out Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion silenced doubters with back-to-back wins in Monza and Baku, a feat that seemed unlikely just weeks ago. His pole position in Baku, secured while rivals faltered, set the stage for a dominant race performance, sending a clear message to McLaren: the 2025 title race is far from over.

Red Bull’s recent car improvements have reignited Verstappen’s form, reminiscent of his dominant past seasons. While it’s uncertain if Red Bull can sustain this momentum across upcoming circuits, Verstappen remains a serious contender, even if the 69-point gap to leader Oscar Piastri makes a three-way title fight challenging. At the very least, he’ll play a major role in deciding the championship’s outcome.

Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing takes victory as his team cheers from the pit wall during the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 21, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Sam Bagnall/Sutton Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

2. Is Oscar Piastri starting to choke from title pressure?

Oscar Piastri, who’s been nearly flawless in 2025, had a weekend to forget in Baku—arguably his worst in F1. After a stellar season of calm and consistency, the Australian crashed in both qualifying and the race, marking his biggest mistake since spinning out in wet conditions at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.

Could the pressure of leading the championship be creeping in? With a 25-point lead over teammate Lando Norris, Piastri’s buffer remains intact, partly because Norris failed to capitalize fully. The upcoming Singapore Grand Prix will test Piastri’s ability to bounce back. He can’t afford another off weekend with seven races left, but there’s no need for panic—yet.

Oscar Piastri at the 2025 Azerbaijan GP. Image courtesy of the McLaren F1 team

3. Carlos Sainz Jr. gets first podium with Williams

Carlos Sainz Jr.’s move to Williams after losing his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton in 2024 hasn’t been smooth, with just 16 points scored before Baku. However, the Spaniard delivered a breakthrough, securing a surprise P2 in qualifying and converting it into his first podium with Williams.

His gritty, error-free drive showcased his resilience and validated his decision to join the team. Beating Hamilton to a podium this season—something few predicted—marks a high point for Sainz and highlights his determination to succeed despite a tough debut year at Williams. Sainz lost his Ferrari seat to Hamilton, who has performed far worse in the car than Sainz did.

Carlos Sainz (ESP) Atlassian Williams Racing FW47. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street Circuit. Photo courtesy of Williams F1 Team

4. Ferrari’s Struggles Deepen

Ferrari’s 2025 season continues to disappoint. Despite dominating Baku’s pole position in the past four years, operational blunders and a lack of pace left Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton starting 10th and 12th. The race offered little redemption, with Hamilton finishing eighth after locking up and almost hitting the wall, and Leclerc ninth after early battery problems and the wrong tire strategy.

A botched team order for Hamilton and Leclerc to swap places on the last lap and overall lack of competitiveness exposed Ferrari’s ongoing issues. After a promising Friday practice led by Hamilton, poor execution derailed their weekend. Ferrari’s winless campaign is slipping away, and their drop behind Mercedes in the constructors’ championship fight for second place underscores the need for better qualifying and strategy to address glaring weaknesses.

Lewis Hamilton 2025 Azerbaijan GP. Photo courtesy of Ferrari

5. Liam Lawson Outshines Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar

Liam Lawson stole the spotlight with a stunning performance, qualifying P3 and finishing fifth—his best F1 result yet. Despite lacking DRS, he held off faster cars, including Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull, Lando Norris’s McLaren, and both Ferraris, earning praise across the paddock. He also beat his teammate Isack Hadjar who has been getting all the accolades of late.

Tsunoda, meanwhile, achieved a personal best of sixth in qualifying and the race but was overshadowed by Lawson’s heroics. With the second Racing Bulls seat likely a straight fight between Lawson and Tsunoda for 2026—amid rumors of Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad stepping up—Lawson’s Baku drive sent a strong message to Red Bull about his potential, while Tsunoda’s solid result didn’t spark the same excitement, perhaps because Honda will no longer be powering the team after 2025.