Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Red Bull F1 star crashes in Baku causing MAJOR championship twist

Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Red Bull, Belgium, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

F1 championship takes MAJOR twist as Red Bull star in huge crash at Azerbaijan GP

Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz crashed late on in Baku

Originally written by Kevin McKenna. This version is a translation.

Sunday 15 September 2024 15:55

The Formula 1 constructors' championship has taken a major twist after a dramatic late crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with both Red Bull star Sergio Perez and Ferrari ace Carlos Sainz involved.

As lap 50 began, Perez had made an attempt to pass Charles Leclerc in second, but having failed to pull off the move, he was vulnerable to Sainz.

F1 RESULTS: Dramatic race ends with HUGE crash as championship lead changes

Heading out of turn 2, the Spaniard passed the Mexican, but with the two drivers battling closely down the main straight, they came together, causing a huge crash for both into the barriers.

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With both stuck in the wall, they failed to finish the race, which went on to finish under the virtual safety car (VSC). George Russell and Lando Norris behind were the immediate benefactors, going from P5 and P6 to P3 and P4 as a result.

Sergio Perez was going strong in Baku until the crash

Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez came together on lap 50

F1 standings after Azerbaijan Grand Prix

With both Perez and Sainz failing to finish the race, it was a huge dent to both Red Bull and Ferrari in terms of the constructors' championship.

This would not have been the case had Perez finished the race where he was, and with a 20-point gap over Red Bull, it isn't as though the McLaren lead is a tiny buffer, either.

McLaren now lead the F1 constructors' standings

Ferrari remain third in the standings, but are now 51 points behind their papaya-colored rivals.

With just seven grands prix remaining this season, McLaren are now the clear favorites for the title, with both drivers consistently scoring big points.

Red Bull Formula 1 Sergio Perez Carlos Sainz Azerbaijan Grand Prix