Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix. Photo / AP
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix. Photo / AP
Max Verstappen has cruised to victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to extend his lead in the F1 drivers' championship.
It appeared Sergio Perez might be on course for back-to-back wins when he passed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on the opening corner of the race.
But he couldn't match Verstappen's pace and was instructed not to fight with his Red Bull teammate, who passed the Mexican and was never headed.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix. Photo / AP
Perez finished second, George Russell rounded out the podium in third and Lewis Hamilton overcame porpoising and a sore back to finish in fourth in an impressive drive.
The race was an unmitigated disaster for Ferrari, with both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failing to finish the race.
Leclerc locked up on the first corner and he was forced to retire because of engine failure, while Sainz' run of horror luck continued when his car also suffered a mechanical failure.
Four cars with Ferrari-powered engines had to retire from the race which had five DNFs.
It was the worst possible result for Ferrari, who are now well behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship with Mercedes quickly making ground.
Verstappen's victory saw him break Sebastian Vettel's record for the most podiums ever for Red Bull. The Dutchman has now stepped on the podium 66 times from his 126 career races.
Daniel Ricciardo crossed the line in P8 to secure his second point finish of the season.
For much of the race, the Australian was in a tight battle with his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who finished just behind him in ninth.
Ricciardo had better pace than Norris early in the race but McLaren refused to let him pass Norris. Ricciardo eventually got in front of Norris by staying on his hard tyres for a long first stint and pitting during a safety car period.
The F1 season continues next weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.
