A hectic start, three safety cars, a red flag and a mano a mano final. At the end of an incredible Grand Prix of Azerbaijan, which was hosting Formula 1 on its ground for the second time, Daniel Ricciardo and his Red Bull climb to the top step of the podium on Sunday 25 June in Baku. The Australian opportunist, winner for the first time this season and for the fifth time in his career, beats the ghost Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), who polished Lance Stroll's politeness (Williams-Mercedes) at the last second. At 18 years 7 months and 15 days, the Canadian, who scored his first points at home in Montreal a fortnight ago, is the youngest driver to be on a podium in the premier category of motorsport.
From the start, the tone of this race with multiple twists is given. A clash between Valtteri Bottas, second at the start, and the Ferrari of Kimi Raïkkönen, which rushed behind him on the proper part of the gate, upset the first moments of the event. In too much enthusiasm, the Mercedes driver took the inside of the second corner to retain the advantage over his compatriot. Contact is inevitable. If the damage on Kimi Raïkkönen's car is not immediate - pieces have escaped from his car several times - the front wing of Valtteri Bottas is completely destroyed and prevents him from continuing serenely. The Finn left again after his refueling.
The ranking has immediately changed. Lewis Hamilton remains in the lead but Sebastian Vettel, the leader of the championship, is at his heels. Sergio Perez (Force India-Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Tag Heuer) fought for third place. No sooner had the Dutchman attempted an attack than the engine of the Red Bull made his soul. A hard blow for the youngest winner in F1, which concedes a fourth abandonment in six races.
However, the race commissioners (too) hesitated long before deciding on the intervention of the first safety car. On the 11th lap, Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso-Renault) stopped in sector two. The safety car only took the track one lap later. As logic, all drivers, except Lance Stroll (Williams-Mercedes), go through the pit lane. At the revival, Kimi Raïkkönen, who is losing more and more mechanical parts, is the big loser. From fourth place, he moved back to sixth place. These debris, present in numbers throughout the track, are the cause of the intervention of the second safety car.
Completely crazy, this Grand Prix created from the action even behind the safety car, as the drivers progress at reduced speed. In turn 2, Lewis Hamilton, worried about the speed he judged too slow of the safety car, abruptly braked before Sebastian Vettel. The German had no alternative but to hit him, before raising his hands to show his annoyance.
To mark the blow, the German then deported to the height of the British to again show him his anger. While holding his wheel at one hand, the front right tire of his Ferrari crashes the left front of the Mercedes. The two leaders of the championship are then under investigation by the commissioners and the threat of a penalty hangs like a sword of Damocles over the two men.
The new recovery is catastrophic for Force India-Mercedes. Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez collide violently in the same turn as the hook that involved Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raïkkönen a few laps earlier. At the same time, Kimi Raïkkönen has no tire on his rim. The Finn and the Mexican are forced to abandon.
It was not counting the red flag that hit the track on lap 22. At stake: the too many debris scattered on the track. The mechanics of Ferrari and Force India succeeded in bringing the Kimi Raïkkönen and Sergio Perez cars back to nine during the 20-minute interruption. The Mexican will finally give up because of a broken seat on the 41st lap. Same issue for Kimi Raïkkönen in the 48th round.
As soon as the race was relaunched, which was still a threat becomes a penalty for Sebastian Vettel, who is fined a heavy penalty: a standstill in the stands of 10 seconds. "I think it was clear, I was not happy with the way he drove, so I put myself up to it and showed it to him," Vettel said after the finish. On the finish line, Lewis Hamilton did not chew his words either. "It was dishonorable," the British said, "but we were going slowly, it could have been a lot worse if we had speed at that time." Imagine all the kids watching F1 today and seeing The type of behavior of a quadruple world champion. If Vettel wants to prove that he is a man, it can be done outside the car, face to face! "
At the same time, Lewis Hamilton is a victim of a fate. A protective element around the pilot's helmet is loose. The British car, forced to hold this element with one of its hands when the car reaches its top speed, has to be repaired. A lap later, Sebastian Vettel suffered his penalty, but at the cost of a performance lap in the race, finally manages to lead Lewis Hamilton, 8th. At the price of a very good recovery at the end of the race, the two leaders of the championship exceeded their predecessors and disputed to the end the fourth place. The German resisted and gained two points ahead of Hamilton in the general classification of a world championship more than ever tense and exciting, 14 points separating the two drivers.
In front of them, Daniel Ricciardo, the first one to pass by the pits, raises his hands before crossing the finish line. Lance Stroll, second until the last second, was overtaken by Valtteri Bottas under the checkered flag thanks to the draw. The Finn was last in a lap after hooking up the first lap with Kimi Raïkkönen.
And the French in all this? Esteban Ocon, on the provisional podium of the Grand Prix around the 38th lap, finally takes sixth place and returns to eleven lengths of his teammate, Sergio Perez, in the championship. In addition to this accounting point, the relationship between the two Force India-Mercedes drivers is likely to experience some turmoil after the violent contact, which condemned in two stroke the Mexican race. At the end of the race, Sergio Perez is vicious against the supposed lack of experience of the Frenchman. In future briefings, the subject may create some sparks internally.
Among the other stables, the feat is signed Fernando Alonso. The McLaren-Honda rider, who won two world championship titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, scored his first points of the year. Desperate for such a situation, the Spaniard had preferred to start the 500-mile Indianapolis on May 28, leaving his tub to retired Jenson Button. Fernando Alonso's future in F1 is uncertain.
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