2023 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix highlights

Sergio Pérez won the 2023 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix to add to his Sprint race victory and cut the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship drivers’ title gap to six points from Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Max Verstappen, who completed a memorable 1-2 on the street circuit.

Verstappen and Pérez overhauled Charles Leclerc early on, then Mexican Pérez took advantage of a Safety Car pit-stop shuffle to clear Verstappen and rejoin the track in the lead, which he never relinquished as Verstappen overtook Leclerc to finish in second with Ferrari’s Leclerc third.

Max Verstappen, Driver, Red Bull Racing

Overall it was quite a good race. Of course, I was unlucky with the safety car call, but we pushed flat out in that second stint. We used every centimetre on that track and touched a few walls! It was a good Team result, and there were a lot of learnings from this weekend to take forward for the rest of the season. We bought it home, and a 1-2 for the Team was ideal. Checo had a great race and did very well today. I’m already looking forward to Miami and seeing what we can do there.

Sergio Pérez, Driver, Red Bull Racing:

It has been an unbelievable weekend, I am super pleased, and I cannot say more about the Team. It has been a tremendous day for us, and I am so proud of everyone. I want to thank Thibaut, one of my mechanics who is at home for personal reasons, but he is still a big part of our Team. The Team enjoy calling me the King of the Streets; I am super happy for them all. They have been tremendous all weekend. It was perfect from yesterday’s sprint race to how we executed it today. Today we were the fastest car on the track, and regardless of the safety car, we would have won the race. I am fighting for the title, not just because of Baku, I believe I can be very good anywhere this season, and now I am just thinking of Miami. There are a lot of races coming up, and we must make sure we are on it.

CHRISTIAN HORNER – CEO and Team Principal, Red Bull Racing

Checo absolutely excelled today. He had the pace and really controlled the race, he benefitted from the timing of the safety car, but it was a phenomenal performance from him today and all weekend. Hats off to him. We were unlucky with the safety car and the pit stop for Max. Sometimes things like that don’t go your way, but that is racing, and we will learn from it. Other than that, it was an excellent performance from the whole team, another 1-2, our 25th! Things are clicking for us now, and it sets us up nicely for next week, but it is still early days. There are 19 races and five more sprint races in this long season. With each race comes moments to savour, but as many learnings, we take those and move to the next challenge. Preparation for Miami is already well underway. See you at the beach!

Red Bull Racing Honda best pictures:

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 28: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing with Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko a Happy 80th Birthday in the garage prior to during practice ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Azerbaijan GP at Baku City Circuit on April 28, 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 28: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner looks on from the pit wall during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on April 28, 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 29: Sprint winner Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing (C), Second placed Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari (L) and Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing (R) pose for a photo in parc ferme during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on April 29, 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 30: Race winner Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrate in parc ferme during the 2023 Formula 1 Azerbaijan GP at Baku City Circuit on April 30, 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 30: Race winner Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates after the 2023 Formula 1 Azerbaijan GP at Baku City Circuit on April 30, 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 30: Second-placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and the Red Bull Racing team celebrate after the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on April 30, 2023, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

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