Red Bull’s Sergio Perez won a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix yesterday with both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton failing to finish.
Sebastian Vettel for Aston Martin and Pierre Gasly for Alpha Tauri completed the unexpected podium.
Verstappen crashed with five laps to go and the race at his mercy. Hamilton then locked up at the restart when on target for second.
Of his win, Perez says: “I’m so happy… but I have to say sorry to Max.
“He deserved the win and it would have been good for the team to get a 1-2 but the win is a fantastic result.”
Perez inherited the lead when his teammate Verstappen’s left rear tyre shredded, triggering a high-speed crash in the straight as he was set to cash in on his second straight win and third of the season.
After a red-flag stoppage lasting over half an hour to clear debris from Verstappen’s stricken car the Grand Prix resumed with a two-lap sprint to the chequered flag.
Hamilton looked to have the measure of Perez but spun off at turn one leaving Perez to collect an unlikely win.