A Baku everything happened: some defended themselves too much, some too little, and some were able to manage a perfect race from start to finish. Among the latter is Oscar Piastri, who with an impeccable performance brought his team to the top of the constructors' standings, demonstrating all his value. Here are the best and worst things from the Baku GP at Fanta F1.
The Baku Grand Prix did not disappoint in terms of twists and turns. In addition to the masterful management of Oscar Piastri, who took the win ahead of a combative Charles Leclerc, the race was marred by a spectacular crash in the closing stages between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez. The two, fighting for third place, collided a few laps from the end, both ending up in the barriers. The crash ended their races and led to the race being closed under the Virtual Safety Car. A hard blow for Perez, who finally had the chance to return to the podium and stay ahead of Verstappen for the entire weekend, and for Sainz, who could have secured precious points for the constructors' championship. Both were heard by the FIA who filed the episode as a racing incident.
GP Baku, the top at Fanta F1
Oscar Piastri: 10 cum laude. A race that demonstrates the potential of McLaren and this young driver who arrived in Formula 1 last year to make his mark. After patiently waiting for the right moment, he takes courage and overtakes Charles. Now or never. Without leaving any stone unturned. Exceptional in attack, exceptional in defense. He takes yet another revenge on his teammate, and gets back into the game in the drivers' championship. Meanwhile, the constructors' championship seems to have made him increasingly safe.
Charles Leclerc: Charles has the honor of having tried and defended his second place tooth and nail, to the detriment of his tires above all. After Monza, the Monegasque had a whiff of yet another consecutive success, a first that has always been lacking in Baku. But this weekend, a superlative Oscar Piastri stood between him and victory. A tough nut to crack, perhaps even harder than Leclerc, who let himself be overtaken in the hope of being able to attack him again on the straight. Despite not getting their third victory of the season, Charles and his Fantamanagers have still got many important points, especially in terms of the world championship.
Franco Colapinto: in his second Formula 1 race, with a Williams Franco Colapinto gets his first world championship points. Considering that in 2025 he will have to leave his place to Sainz, the commitment and dedication of this boy are admirable. A nice debut at Fanta F1.
GP Baku, the flops at Fanta F1
Carlos Sainz: Sainz had an unfortunate episode in the closing stages of the race. After passing Sergio Perez for third place, he immediately tried to pass his teammate, Charles Leclerc, to take second place. However, this move proved reckless: his overly aggressive attempt allowed Perez to rejoin the duel, leading to contact between the two and the inevitable retirement of both. Sainz, who could have brought home valuable points for Ferrari in the constructors' championship, saw a great opportunity vanish.
Sergio Perez: For Perez, the Baku GP represented an important chance to climb back onto the podium and above all to finish ahead of Max Verstappen. After losing third place to Sainz, the Mexican tried desperately to take it back, but the battle between the two ended with contact and a retirement for both. A real shame for Perez, who had managed the race well up to that point and could have collected key points for Red Bull. His impulsiveness in the final laps put an end to a weekend that seemed to promise much more.
Yuki tsunoda: The Japanese driver from Visa Cash App RB saw his race ruined right from the start. A contact with Lance Stroll in the first corners forced him to retire shortly after. It was a disappointment for Tsunoda, who did not have the chance to show his potential in the race. His Fantamanagers are left with a bitter taste in their mouths.
