Max verstappen wins azerbaijan grand prix as ferrari meltdown continues in baku

Phil Duncan in Baku. Luke Slater live updates 12 June 2022 2:37pm BST * SIGN UP TO TELEGRAPH SPORT'S NEW NEWSLETTER - FORMULA 1: THE RACING LINE. LANDING IN YOUR INBOX ON THE MONDAY

AFTER EACH RACE, IT IS THE PERFECT RECAP OF THE WEEKEND * AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX: GEORGE RUSSELL FEARS 'MAJOR INCIDENT' DUE TO 'DANGEROUS' F1 CARS * LEWIS HAMILTON

STRUGGLES TO GET OUT OF CAR DUE TO BACK INJURY AS TOTO WOLFF APOLOGISES ​ * VERSTAPPEN LEADS SERGIO PEREZ HOME AFTER BOTH FERRARIS RETIRE * GEORGE RUSSELL THIRD FOR MERCEDES AND LEWIS

HAMILTON FOURTH A wounded Charles Leclerc has demanded Ferrari eliminate their reliability woes to prevent this season’s Formula One battle from becoming a one-horse race. Max Verstappen

extended his championship lead by racing unopposed to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz failed to finish on a desperate afternoon for Ferrari in

Baku. Leclerc was bidding to avenge Ferrari’s flat-footed strategy in Monaco a fortnight ago which cost him victory at his home event. But on lap 20 of 51, Leclerc’s engine expired, and he

retired from the lead. A power unit failure at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya last month means the Monegasque has now failed to finish in two of his last three appearances. Leclerc led

Verstappen by as many as 46 points after the third round in Australia – the scene of his last triumph – on April 10. But ahead of next weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit

Gilles Villeneuve – the ninth race of 22 this season – Leclerc trails the Dutchman by 34 points in the championship standings. Sunday’s race could indeed prove pivotal in Verstappen’s quest

to win back-to-back crowns. Sergio Perez finished second to complete a Red Bull one-two, and is now the closest challenger to Verstappen after he leapfrogged Leclerc in the standings. The

Mexican, who took the bonus point for the fastest lap, is 21 points adrift of his Red Bull team-mate. George Russell claimed his third podium finish for Mercedes coming home behind Perez,

while team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who complained of severe back pain in his jumpy Silver Arrows, took fourth. “It hurts,” said Leclerc, 24. “We really need to look into that for it not to

happen again. “I can’t really find the right words to describe what has happened. It is just very, very disappointing. “We were fast and didn’t have big problems in the first part of the

season. But now it seems we have more problems even if we haven’t made massive changes to the car. It is difficult to understand.” Leclerc delivered a mighty lap in qualifying to put his

Ferrari at the front of the pack only to lose out to Perez on the short stampede to the opening corner. Perez moved two seconds clear of Leclerc, with Verstappen occupying the Monegasque’s

mirrors. At the start of the ninth lap, cue the first of two Ferrari blows as Sainz parked his scarlet machine following a hydraulic failure. Out came the virtual safety car, and in came

Leclerc for a change of tyres. Perez and Verstappen elected against stopping for fresh rubber before the Red Bull drivers traded positions on lap 15. Verstappen took the lead into the

opening bend with Perez offering little resistance. “No fighting,” was the order from the Red Bull pit wall in a clear sign that Verstappen is the team’s No 1 man. > Verstappen passes 

Perez! >  > Max Verstappen very suddenly closed the gap on Sergio Perez and has > passed him for the lead! 1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/Nj4dBwJIts > — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 

12, 2022 Leclerc held a 12-second lead over Verstappen after the world champion stopped for new boots on lap 20, but moments later, Leclerc’s race was over, and with it, possibly his

championship dreams, too. In a plume of white smoke, Leclerc limped back to the pits. The pained expression on the face of team principal Mattia Binotto – the man tasked with ending

Ferrari’s 15-year championship drought – spoke volumes. The Ferrari pit wall soon became a ghost town as Verstappen cruised to the flag, claiming the fifth win of his championship defence.

“I would always say s--- happens,” said Verstappen in an unsympathetic response to Leclerc’s car failure. “That’s racing. It happened to me, it happened to many people in the past, and

unfortunately it’s happening to Charles now. “If I would be in the same situation I would also be disappointed. That’s very normal, but it’s about how you come out of it. “You learn from it,

you don’t like it, and you are angry, but you turn it around. You have to prevent these issues from happening.” > Double DNF disaster for Ferrari ❌❌ >  > Charles Leclerc engine 

fails and both Ferraris are out of the race! > 😬 pic.twitter.com/RjcxSlNVs9 > — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 12, 2022 Russell was able to take advantage of Ferrari’s double DNF to

move up two places from his grid slot of fifth on another composed day for the young Briton. Hamilton started seventh and fell down the order after his opening pit stop. But the seven-time

world champion moved back ahead of Sebastian Vettel following a spin for the Aston Martin driver, before fighting his way past Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. Hamilton also made light work of Pierre

Gasly in the closing stages to take fourth, an eye-watering 88 points behind Verstappen. Vettel recovered to sixth, one place ahead of Fernando Alonso. Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris

finished eighth and ninth respectively for McLaren. Azerbaijan ------------------------- AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX, AS IT HAPPENED 2:15PM DOESN'T GET MUCH WORSE THAN THAT FOR FERRARI, DOES

IT? Still such a long way to go in the championship but the trends are there. This wasn't like the small dent they took in Monaco, these was a big blow in both championships. Four poles

in a row and not a win to show for it.  Stay tuned for more news and analysis from us for the next few days as well as the F1 newsletter, The Racing Line, which will be sent out tomorrow

lunchtime. YOU CAN SIGN UP TO THAT HERE.  2:08PM VERSTAPPEN SPEAKS AFTER HIS WIN > 🗣️ "You can never make up what you lost last year but I think > today we had an incredible pace 

in the car" >  > Max Verstappen wins again... looks like Red Bull really does give > you wings 🦅 pic.twitter.com/Jg95ne18oE > — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 12, 2022

1:59PM SPEAKING OF CONSISTENCY Here are Russell's results for the full season.  4th, 5th, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 3rd.  Just a model of consistency and speed. Yes, he would have liked

Mercedes to have given him a winning car, but the next best thing (at least for his reputation) is beating Lewis Hamilton. And he is doing that. Seven races in a row now he has finished

ahead. Leads 5-3 in qualifying and 99 points to 63.  Just a very, very, very good driver. Lando Norris also deserving of praise for reaching fifty points. Ricciardo only has _fifteen_..

1:55PM WATCH: HAMILTON STRUGGLES OUT OF HIS CAR > Hamilton does not look well 🤕 pic.twitter.com/4RaXebGvfT > — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 12, 2022 1:53PM WOLFF ON TEAM RADIO TO

HAMILTON "Lewis we all know this is a bit of a s--- box to drive and sorry for the back. We will sort ourselves out." Not the first time this season he has taken to the radio after

the race to apologise.  1:52PM UPDATED CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS Just goes from bad to worse for Ferrari. Mercedes picking up the pieces despite lacking the ultimate pace. Scant consolation

really. They simply do not have a car that can compete at the moment.  1:51PM PEREZ SAYS IN THE POST-RACE INTERVIEW THAT HE SUFFERED A LOT OF DEGRADATION ON THE MEDIUMS I don't think he

had the pace to really challenge Verstappen today. A disappointing result but still, his run of results from Australia is: 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 2nd.  1:47PM HAMILTON LOOKS IN A LOT OF

DISCOMFORT GETTING OUT OF HIS CAR He struggles to get out and then sits on the halo for a while... He does win driver of the day, however. Deserved? Not sure. Good drive, though.  > 

Congratulations to @LewisHamilton! 👏 >  > Your #F1DriverOfTheDay #AzerbaijanGP @salesforce > pic.twitter.com/K0Gz4W22Uu > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022 1:46PM UPDATED DRIVER

STANDINGS: TOP 10 Russell is now 17 points behind Leclerc. Russell the only man to have finished in the top 10 in every race. Consistent. And quick.  1:41PM AZERBAIJAN GP - CLASSIFICATION *

VER * PER * RUS * HAM * GAS * VET * ALO * RIC * NOR * OCO * BOT * ALB * TSU * MSC * LAT OUT:STR, MAG, ZHO, LEC, SAI Perez gets the fastest lap point. Red Bull 1-2 in the drivers'

standings.  1:40PM MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE 2022 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX Easy in the end. We will have to wait a long time for Perez, then Russell and then Hamilton to cross the line.  Norris

is closing up onto the back of Ricciardo. He didn't seem to agree with his team's position to hold their places. Not sure he can get close enough at the end to try it, though...

1:38PM FINAL LAP Verstappen does not get the fastest lap that time around... still, not a bad weekend. Perez holds the point currently. Norris told to hold station behind Ricciardo for

eighth and ninth.  1:37PM LAP 50 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN ATTEMPTING THE FASTEST LAP POINT HERE Bit of a dull race for him, really. He had pace to burn in that Red Bull. More than anyone had an

answer for.  1:36PM LAP 49 OF 51 - HERE ARE THE RETIREES SO FAR OUT: STR, MAG, ZHO, LEC, SAI Verstappen says he felt something fall between his feet under braking.... 1:35PM LAP 48 OF 51 -

VERSTAPPEN LEADS BY 19.3S In the earlier Gasly/Vettel equation, I failed to notice that Vettel was on similarly old hard tyres, so Gasly should be safe for fifth here. A good drive, no

doubt.  1:33PM LAP 47 OF 51 - HAMILTON SAYS HIS SEAT HAS GONE COLD Has his back gone numb? Perez currently holds the bonus point for fastest lap. Perez will, as it stands, go into second

place in the driver standings ahead of Leclerc.  Stroll told to come into the pit lane to retire the car. Awful weekend for the Canadian. Awful weekend for the other Canadian, too. He was 55

seconds adrift of the next best man, who was Stroll. Excellent weekend for Albon in 12th. Relatively, anyway... 1:30PM LAP 46 OF 51 - THERE IS ALMOST NO INTEREST AT THE FROMT Verstappen

leads Perez by 18 seconds. Perez is 22 seconds ahead of Russell. Russell is 24 seconds ahead of Hamilton.  LATIFI GETS A FIVE-SECOND TIME PENALTY FOR IGNORING BLUE FLAGS.  1:29PM LAP 45 OF

51 - TOP 10 AND GAPS INTO THE CLOSING LAPS * VER * PER +17.7 * RUS +39.7 * HAM +62.9 * GAS +64.4 * VET +71.9 * ALO +78.4 * RIC +70.0 * NOR +82.7 * OCO  +93.7 Norris is told that he has to

close up on Ricciardo and then if Ricciardo can't close up on Alonso they will let Norris through. However, then if he can't get past Alonso himself, he gives the position back to

Ricciardo.  1:27PM LAP 44 OF 51 - HAMILTON GETS GASLY FOR FOURTH DRS into turn three and it's a smooth move.  Vettel eight seconds behind so fifth might still be possible for Gasly.

Vettel's pace is not lightning compared to the Frenchman.  > Hamilton takes Gasly and moves into fourth! ⤴️ > pic.twitter.com/HpdnISTyOb > — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 

12, 2022 1:25PM LAP 43 OF 51 - HAMILTON CLOSES IN ON GASLY FOR FOURTH He is now within DRS range.  Does Gasly have the pace to hang onto a top-six place? Probably. It's Vettel then nine

seconds behind Hamilton and then Alonso a further six behind that. His tyres could fall off the cliff but the laps are running out.  Here's how the AlphaTauri mechanics

'fixed' Tsunoda's rear wing issue.  > Gaffer tape can fix anything! 😆 pic.twitter.com/oLEl7wfodb > — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 12, 2022 1:22PM LAP 42 OF 51 -

RICCIARDO DOESN'T EXACTLY HAVE BLISTERING PACE ON THESE MEDIUM TYRES He's 2.5s behind Alonso now and lapping slower. Norris wants him to speed up and he's right behind him...

hmmm. It really hasn't worked out on these tyres.  1:21PM LAP 41 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN TOLD NOT TO USE DRS FOR THE REST OF THE RACE I don't think he needs it! 1:20PM LAP 40 OF 51 -

VERSTAPPEN IS GOING TO HAVE A FREE PIT STOP SOON ENOUGH... That might actually be what Red Bull plan?  No, surely not. 1:18PM LAP 39 OF 51 - VERY STRONG WEEKEND FROM VETTEL He has recovered

from that earlier lock up and spin turn and is now running in seventh. Tsunoda comes into the pits with his issue. They are changing the tyres and are going to try and fix the rear wing?

They are trying to tape it with speed tape but is that really going to work? Is it going to be acceptable? He is told to not use DRS. I am not sure that will be what the FIA want.  1:16PM

LAP 38 OF 51 - BLACK AND ORANGE FLAG FOR TSUNODA That means he has to come in and repair the issue with his rear wing (not himself). Or, more likely, just retire. It's not a quick fix

and even if it was, his race would be done.  VERSTAPPEN NOW LEADS PEREZ BY 14.9S.  1:14PM LAP 37 OF 51 -TSUNODA HAS A PROBLEM WITH HIS REAR WING It is only partly opening under DRS which

suggests something is structurally unsound with it as it is. He might well have to come in and retire his car with an issue like that.  1:13PM LAP 36 OF 51 - TOP 10 AND GAPS * VER * PER

+12.4 * RUS +33.0 * GAS +44.2 * HAM +53.4 * TSU +55.2 * VET +56.7 * ALO +62.3 * RIC +63.9 * NOR  +69.0 1:11PM LAP 35 OF 51 - VSC ENDING Tsunoda locks up at the first corner... he has

Hamilton right behind him and will be easy pickings, surely. Verstappen now leads Perez by 12.4s with Russell a further 18.3s behind. Ricciardo stopped and went onto the mediums, so comes

out in ninth. I think sixth or fifth could be his target here. He needs to make up a second or so a lap on the cars ahead of him, though.  1:09PM LAP 34 OF 51 - VSC STILL OUT Gasly

didn't stop there, so he's in fourth but will have much older tyres. And will likely be easy meat for anyone coming back at him... but will anyone have a big enough pace advantage?

Probably. 17 laps or so left to go... Hamilton is on fresh hards but is 16 seconds behind.  > LAP 34/51 >  > Drivers, including leader Verstappen, seize the opportunity to pit >

 for fresh rubber under the Virtual Safety Car #AzerbaijanGP #F1 > pic.twitter.com/JdvIOiMxYP > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022 AlphaTauri left both of their cars out. Aggressive.

Looks like they have got Magnussen's car as safe as they can at the side of the track.  1:07PM LAP 33 OF 51 - VSC DEPLOYED That helps Daniel Ricciardo massively if he stops, which he

surely will? Haas are Ferrari-powered and that was almost certainly a power unit failure. Red Bull take the chance to double stack their cars. Russell makes a stop too.  In comes Hamilton,

too.  1:05PM LAP 32 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN EXTENDS HIS LEAD OVER PEREZ His target time is a 1:48.0... he did a 1:47.7 last time around. Ricciardo the only man in the top 10 yet to stop. He will

come out in around 13th were he to stop now. But he'd have the fresher and quicker medium tyres so could possibly make his way back up into the points from there. Almost certainly. 

MAGNUSSEN IS SLOWING ON TRACK IN THE FINAL SECTOR! CAN HE GET BACK TO THE PITS? NO. HE PULLS TO THE SIDE OF THE TRACK AND RETIRES. > LAP 33/51 >  > Now it's Magnussen with 

engine issues. He pulls over and is told to > turn off the car >  > ⚠️ VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR ⚠️#AzerbaijanGP #F1 > pic.twitter.com/MMYPznTkqA > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022

Yellow flags at the moment. Possible VSC which will help Daniel Ricciardo.  1:02PM LAP 31 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN TOLD TO COOL HIS PACE A BIT He went a full half a second quicker than his target

lap time. His lead is now over nine seconds.  "You know full well what it's like to lose a race here," he is told on the radio.  12:59PM LAP 30 OF 51 - HAMILTON, BY THE WAY,

IS HAVING A DECENT RACE, I THINK Was a bit compromised by being second on the road and stopping behind Russell under the VSC. But he was slower in qualifying, and that's what happens.

His problems are compounding. Closing in on Gasly, though.  12:58PM LAP 29 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN LEADS PEREZ BY 7.4S Unfortunately this looks like it is going to be another one of the

"dull" Baku races. Verstappen currently holds the fastest lap bonus point.  Hamilton on the radio. "Argh, my back is killing me!" he says. He sounds in a lot of pain. 

12:57PM LAP 28 OF 51 - LECLERC SPEAKS AFTER HIS RETIREMENT > It hurts. We really need to look into that for it to not happen > again. I don't really find the right words to 

describe. I don't > know. We really need to look into it. We've been fast and we didn't > have particularly big problems in the first part of the season, now > it 

seems like we have more, but we didn't change big things. It's > difficult to understand now. I don't have the full picture of what > happened today. Again, personally, 

it hurts.  12:55PM LAP 27 OF 51 - ALONSO GETS OCON ON THE PIT STRAIGHT 343km/h on as he did it. Into ninth now for Alonso. Vettel the next man up the road.  12:53PM LAP 26 OF 51 - TOP 10 AND

GAPS * VER * PER +7.1 * RUS +19.4 * GAS +40.9 * HAM +44.4 * RIC* +45.8 * TSU +50.2 * VET +53.8 * OCO* +56.3 * ALO +56.9 _*yet to stop_ 12:52PM LAP 25 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN INCREASES HIS LEAD

Just generally a few tenths quicker than Perez. Will likely be a lonely afternoon now for Perez. Might be one for Verstappen, too. Still, imagine if he has to retire... and Perez leads the

standings! Hamilton gets Ricciardo to move into fifth.  12:50PM LAP 24 OF 51 - RUSSELL ON FOR ANOTHER PODIUM Just another fine, problem free and generally quick weekend with little fuss or

hassle. He has just posted his fastest lap time. Trails Perez by 11.3s.  12:49PM LAP 23 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN LEADS PEREZ BY 6.1S Hmmmm. I think this race needs something unusual to happen to

make it remotely interesting. Sadly. Sounds like Zhou Guanyu - who is running in the points and having a good weekend - is going to have to retire from that position. He is told to come back

into the pits.  12:46PM LAP 22 OF 51 - TOP 12 NOW LECLERC IS OUT Ricciardo making moves on his old hard tyres. Though he has just lost a place to Gasly.  * VER * PER * RUS * GAS * RIC * HAM

* TSU * OCO * VET * ZHO * MAG * ALO 12:45PM LAP 21 OF 51 - THAT'S NOW A 1-2 FOR RED BULL Charles Leclerc's championship hopes taking a big dent today. Two DNFs in two races. Four

poles in a row but a total of 30 points from those four races. Poor.  12:43PM LAP 20 OF 51 - LECLERC RETIRES! His engine has gone on the back straight! It's a double DNF for Ferrari! I

said earlier that losing the lead early on wasn't a disaster but this is now is a disaster for Ferrari... > Double DNF disaster for Ferrari ❌❌ >  > Charles Leclerc engine fails

 and both Ferraris are out of the race! > 😬 pic.twitter.com/RjcxSlNVs9 > — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 12, 2022 He manages to get back to the pit lane but that ends a truly awful

afternoon for the Scuderia.  12:40PM LAP 19 OF 51 - LECLERC LEADS VERSTAPPEN BY 13.6S Perez has just done the fastest lap of the race. McLaren running in fifth and sixth, though have yet to

stop. Ocon in ninth and also yet to stop.  12:38PM LAP 18 OF 51 - TOP 10 AND GAPS * VER * LEC +8.0 * PER +26.5 * RUS +28.7 * ALO +38.4 * NOR +38.9 * RIC +39.7 * GAS +40.5 * HAM+47.1 *

OCO+47.6 Hmmm. This race has not really come alive yet. Let's hope it does... Hamilton puts one up the inside of Ocon to take ninth at turn three. Nice move.  > LAP 18/51 >  > 

Hamilton goes wheel-to-wheel with Ocon and gets past the Frenchman >  > He's up to P8#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/VofYSIYHlF > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022 Verstappen

into the pits. Leclerc will assume the lead.  12:36PM LAP 17 OF 51 - IN COMES PEREZ FOR A NEW SET OF HARDS It was a long stop. 5.7s. Perez will now have Russell to contend with behind him.

Russell has already stopped and has hard tyres which are warm, Perez's will be much colder. But does Russell have the speed on the straights to make a move.  > LAP 17/51 >  > 

Perez pits for hard tyres - he's stationary for nearly six seconds - > and then back out on track in P3 #AzerbaijanGP #F1 > pic.twitter.com/wX9awdHZh8 > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 

12, 2022 IT WAS A HYDRAULIC ISSUE FOR SAINZ, IT SEEMS. HIS MISERY GOES ON.  12:34PM LAP 16 OF 51 - "NO FIGHTING," PEREZ WAS TOLD Verstappen has increased his lead to 2.9s already.

He didn't fight it in any way but Verstappen has such pace at the moment that it surely was only a matter of time.  12:32PM LAP 15 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN TAKES THE LEAD! He gets DRS on the

pit straight and dives down the inside at turn one.  > LAP 15/51 >  > Verstappen has got past Perez and leads!#AzerbaijanGP #F1 > pic.twitter.com/Vqj3znzJ4E > — Formula 1 

(@F1) June 12, 2022 That was a clean move. Verstappen had the pace there, Perez didn't fight it too much really but with DRS it looked a sure thing. I think sensible stuff.  12:31PM LAP

14 OF 51 - LECLERC WITH THE FASTEST LAP And Verstappen is 1.2s behind Perez now. Perez struggling with his tyres? Leclerc is 12.5s behind Perez as it stands.  12:29PM LAP 13 OF 51 -

PEREZ'S LEAD DOWN TO 1.5S NOW Do Red Bull let their drivers fight? With DRS it might be an easy move for Verstappen, though.  Vettel tries to overtake Ocon at turn three, almost gets

the move done but locks up and carries straight on after locking up. He was miles ahead as he came to braking so it was a bit of an odd one. Hamilton has jumped him too, as has Tsunoda. Not

a great moment... > Vettel goes off track! 😧 >  > He was going for the overtake on Esteban Ocon! ⤴️ >  > That save at the end though... 😅 pic.twitter.com/8w39KGHInN > — Sky

 Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 12, 2022 12:27PM LAP 12 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN NOW WITHIN TWO SECONDS OF PEREZ Hamilton within DRS range of Vettel for the final spot in the top 10.  Perez puts in

the fastest first sector of the race to extend his lead a bit. No surprise, by the way, that Russell and Leclerc went onto the hard tyres. At least that has taken away the worry of

Verstappen overtaking Leclerc on track... 12:25PM LAP 11 OF 51 - TOP 10 AFTER SOME CARS STOP * PER * VER * LEC* * RUS* * ALO * NOR * RIC * GAS* * OCO * VET* _*cars have stopped_ 12:23PM LAP

10 OF 51 - VSC DEPLOYED A horrible noise as Sainz approached turn four. Not entirely sure it was a BBW failure. As soon as the VSC is deployed in comes Charles Leclerc. And in comes Russell.

It wasn't a quick stop for Leclerc, but will that work out for him? Hamilton also comes in. Vettel has jumped Hamilton in the pit lane as Hamilton had to wait for Russell to stop

first.  If there are no other safety cars or red flags in this race then that is a long way for Leclerc to go.  12:21PM LAP 9 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN CLOSER THAN EVER TO LECLERC "Just keep

the pace. Nothing is running away from you up front," is the message to him from his engineer. Perez still only 2.1s ahead of Leclerc.  YELLOW FLAGS! SAINZ HAS GONE STRAIGHT ON FOR SOME

REASON AND IS THAT HIS RACE OVER? > LAP 9/51 >  > 📻 "Something has failed" Sainz reports >  > The Spaniard has run off at Turn 4 and is out of the race > 

😫#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/9bjGGd2Xr8 > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022 Brake by wire failure, he says.  12:19PM LAP 8 OF 51 - "IF THIS IS HIS BEST PACE, I'VE GOT

MORE," SAYS DANIEL RICCIARDO Ricciardo on the hard tyres but is 1.5s behind. I think he dropped back a bit in the last couple of laps. Encouraging signs from Ricciardo performance wise.

Not so much for McLaren.  12:16PM LAP 7 OF 51 - TOP 15 * PER * LEC * VER * SAI * RUS * GAS * HAM * VET * TSU * ALO * NOR * RIC * OCO * ZHO * MAG It was actually a 10-second stop/go penalty

for Latifi, so as big an in-race penalty as you can get.  12:15PM LAP 6 OF 51 - VERSTAPPEN GETS DRS AGAIN But he can't think of a move into turn one. He closes up at turn three but

again is too far back. Leclerc has closed up on Perez a bit in the last lap. And goes fastest in the first sector again.  12:14PM LAP 5 OF 51 - PEREZ INCREASES HIS LEADS TO 2.5S  Verstappen

closes up on the pit straight, will he get another go on the second straight with DRS? He's closer but can't think of a move. I think patience is the order of the day here. This is

obviously far from a disaster for Ferrari at the moment, but it is another bad start for the team.  Leclerc puts in the fastest first sector of the race and he needs it... 12:12PM LAP 4 OF

51 - PEREZ INCREASES HIS LEADS TO 2.2S Verstappen does get DRS on Leclerc and closes right up as they start lap five... 12:10PM LAP 3 OF 51 - TOP 10 AND GAPS * PER * LEC +1.9 * VER +2.9 *

SAI +4.6 * RUS +6.0 * GAS +7.7 * HAM +8.5 * VET +9.8 * TSU +11.2 * ALO +11.9 Confirmation of a 10 second penalty for Latifi for an incident at the start. Seems to be that there was still

some work on the car when it shouldn't have been. Was likely just a push back a metre to his grid slot.  Verstappen has closed up onto the back of Leclerc here... he will get DRS. 

12:08PM LAP 2 OF 51 - PEREZ LEADS LECLERC BY 1.5S Not much action in the top 10 so far, aside from the change of the lead. Max Verstappen has a good top speed in his Red Bull.  At the start

Perez and Verstappen got away well, but Verstappen couldn't really do anything with it because he had Leclerc right in front of him.  12:06PM THE 2022 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX IS GO!

It's a little while longer on the grid than they would have hoped... Perez takes the inside line and gets the better start... Leclerc locks up on the outside into turn one and Perez

takes the lead! > ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️ > ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️ >  > LIGHTS OUT IN BAKU!!! >  > And Perez takes the lead into Turn 1! #AzerbaijanGP #F1 > pic.twitter.com/tPhz6buJv3 > — 

Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022 Sainz and Verstappen battle for third a little further back. It's all a very clean start at the moment, though Latifi is under investigation for an

incident at the start. Perez has pulled out 1.5s on Perez in the first two sectors of the lap.  12:02PM MESSAGE TO PEREZ FROM HIS ENGINEER "Elbows out at turn one. It's all to play

for." It certainly is.  12:01PM THE FORMATION LAP IS AWAY Leclerc leads the field from the front. Mediums for everyone in the top 11, then hards for every but Ocon, Bottas, Stroll and

Schumacher.  > Tyre blankets off!#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/kJh7SiD8JS > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022 11:57AM WOLFF SAYS HAMILTON MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE FULL RACE...

Ouch.  > 🗣️ "I’m not even sure we can go full length with Lewis" >  > Toto Wolff has just warned that the physical pain caused by the > bouncing of the Mercedes may 

prevent Lewis Hamilton from finishing > the race! 😲 pic.twitter.com/FazBitTYmy > — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 12, 2022 11:52AM JUST UNDER 10 MINUTES TO GO  Predictions? I think

one Safety Car. I think Leclerc has this one. Verstappen second, Perez third and Sainz to put it in the wall (sorry Carlos).  11:49AM SERGIO PEREZ SPEAKS TO SKY SPORTS > Today it's 

important to maximum the team result and that will be the > target. Hopefully get two cars ahead of the red car. If I get [a > chance] at turn one, I will go for it.  11:46AM IT'S

TIME FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Which, you can't see in pictures.  > It's hotting up on the grid 😅#AzerbaijanGP #F1 > pic.twitter.com/IDtoRH0b1W > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 12,

 2022 Anyway, it's busy on the grid. Really hope we, at least, get to see a battle to the end with Ferrari and Red Bull. Didn't really materialise in Monaco and Spain for a variety

of reasons.   11:40AM JUST UNDER 20 MINUTES TO GO UNTIL LIGHTS OUT So here is the final starting grid.  2. PER 1.  LEC 4. SAI 3. VER 6. GAS 5. RUS 8. TSU 7. HAM 10. ALO 9. VET 12. RIC 11.

NOR 14. ZHO 13. OCO 16. MAG 15. BOT 18. LAT 17. ALB 20. MSC 19. STR 11:37AM HELMET MARKO ON RED BULL'S SERGIO PEREZ'S FINE FORM > He is the first driver who is that close to Max

 and is even matching > him. It is good for us and it helps us in the constructors' > championship.  11:32AM A PHOTOGENIC SETTING FOR A RACE Not quite Monaco, is it... but still

good.  11:26AM NOBODY HAS WON IN BAKU TWICE YET Three of the top four on the grid have never won here. > WHO WINS IN BAKU? 🏆 >  > Will we have another first-time winner on the 

Caspian Sea coast? > 👀#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/8TyYNkF59j > — Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2022 11:23AM THE PIT LANE IS OPEN Weather looks pretty good. Sunny. Warm. The conditions

were cooler yesterday but they were starting three hours later in the day... 11:18AM QUALIFYING HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS FOR EACH TEAM THIS YEAR F1 team-mate qualifying head-to-head Russell now

leads Hamilton 5-3. Can't think of a time when that has happened after eight races, at least recently. Better day for Guanyu Zhou, who qualifies ahead of Valtteri Bottas for the first

time this year. As it stands only Alexander Albon and Charles Leclerc have 100 per cent records against their team-mates.  11:15AM STRATEGIES THIS AFTERNOON Looks like a one-stopper

according to Pirelli. But when you have the threat of a Safety Car or red flag throughout the race that changes things.  > How will the available sets feed into the race strategies? 🤔#F1

> #AzerbaijanGP #Fit4F1 #Formula1 #Pirelli #Pirelli150 @F1 > pic.twitter.com/jhubdynehp > — Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) June 12, 2022  Think we need, as much as

possible, to try and remove clear one-stop races from F1. Easier said than done, though.  11:11AM RARE TO SEE MAX VERSTAPPEN STRUGGLING LIKE THIS, OUT-QUALIFIED TWICE IN A ROW NOW BY PEREZ

Though it is all relative. Last year Perez was not quite on it and in the previous two seasons before that he had Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon who also under-performed relative to the

car.  This is more the situation where Verstappen has someone who can push him and challenge him, like Daniel Ricciardo did from 2016-2018.  > Struggling to find the right balance in the 

car in Qualifying again, > which made it a tricky session for us >  > P3 is not where we want to be, but good enough to make a push in > tomorrow’s race >  > All to play 

for 👊#KeepPushing #AzerbaijanGP > pic.twitter.com/Ymlae98QOY > — Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) June 11, 2022 11:09AM STROLL HAD A PRETTY DISASTROUS DAY YESTERDAY > Q1 RED FLAG 🚩

>  > What a nightmare for Stroll! >  > Just after crashing into the wall at Turn 7 he's gone and crashed > AGAIN! 😬 pic.twitter.com/x7UocKbgrf > — Sky Sports F1 

(@SkySportsF1) June 11, 2022 He is not having a good season. Vettel also crashed, albeit just the once, and he made it into the top 10 at least. Which is a good result for Aston Martin this

year. Vettel took a podium in the last Azerbaijan Grand Prix last year. Small chance of that today, unless it's another mad race.  11:03AM CURRENT CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS

 Ferrari have been losing ground in recent races. Could do with a good result here.  11:01AM CURRENT DRIVER STANDINGS: TOP 10 If they finish as they start in Baku today then Leclerc

could retake the lead of the standings, depending on who gets the fastest lap bonus point.   10:57AM LEWIS HAMILTON SPEAKS AHEAD OF THE RACE - HE STARTS SEVENTH > It is what it is and we

 are faced with this reality and we just have > to keep working through it. It's crazy to think that we are this far > off the two teams ahead of us but we are right with the pack

 behind. > I'm just conscious of the bouncing and whether we can make it > through the race with the bouncing. We're not that quick on the > straights... it is a track you

 can overtake on but we are at risk of > being overtaken due to other peoples' speed.  10:53AM GEORGE RUSSELL FEARS 'MAJOR INCIDENT' DUE TO 'DANGEROUS' F1 CARS

> British driver George Russell has called Formula One’s new era of > cars “dangerous”, a “recipe for disaster” and fears it is > only a “matter of time” before there is a major 

accident. READ MORE FROM PHIL DUNCAN IN BAKU HERE.   10:42AM QUALIFYING TIMES * Charles Leclerc, Ferrari 1:41.359 * Sergio Perez, Red Bull 1:41.641 * Max Verstappen, Red Bull 1:41.706 *

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari 1:41.814 * George Russell, Mercedes 1:42.712 * Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri 1:42.845 * Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 1:42.924 * Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri 1:43.056 * Sebastian

Vettel, Aston Martin 1:43.091 * Fernando Alonso, Alpine 1:43.173 * Lando Norris, McLaren 1:43.398 * Daniel Ricciardo, 1:43.574 * Esteban Ocon, Alpine 1:43.903 * Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo

1:43.790 * Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo 1:44.444 * Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1:44.643 * Alexander Albon, Williams 1:44.719 * Nicholas Latifi, Williams 1:45.367 * Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

1:45.371 * Mick Schumacher, Haas 1:45.775 10:34AM GOOD MORNING And welcome to our live coverage for the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the Baku City Circuit in Baku, obviously. Formula One

has been coming to Baku since 2016 and in those six years we've had a variety of races. Some of them have been interesting, frantic and chaotic and others have been fairly hum-drum. 

The nature of the circuit means there will likely be crashes, Safety Cars, and potentially red flags, which always helps add variation and excitement to a race. Naturally, it would help to

have cars that have similar pace too, and a strategy where it is not just a clear one-stopper for all but the most daring or those at the back who have to try something different.  Which

type of race will we get today? It's impossible to say but judging by qualifying it looks like we should have another battle between Ferrari and Red Bull at the front, and hopefully

with all four drivers playing a part. Charles Leclerc was the championship contender who put it on pole position yesterday, delivering another superb lap in the final part of qualifying. Up

to that point he had made a few mistakes on his quick laps - as can happen on street circuits - but he managed to string it together again for his sixth pole in eight races and fourth in a

row.  Yet the issue for Leclerc is that he has failed to convert any of those pole positions into wins and has seen a substantial championship lead turn into a deficit, albeit a small

(nine-point) one. The potentially complicating factor for both Ferrari and Red Bull is that it is Sergio Perez who is again out-performing Max Verstappen, finishing ahead in qualifying for

the second race in a row.  Given that Perez only trails his team-mate by 15 points in the championship, if he beats him again today then it could become difficult to manage. In fact, the

race situation today might be difficult for them to manage. It's not as clear to simply tell Perez to move out of the way for Verstappen. And in doing that now, so early in the season

again, you risk team harmony. It's complicated for Ferrari in that Leclerc now has two Red Bulls to fight. The Mexican normally goes well at this track, too, and won here last year. 

Elsewhere, Mercedes had another poor day, finishing in fifth with George Russell and seventh with Lewis Hamilton. There's not much more to say than the long straight here means they are

suffering from their 'bouncing' issues and, without retirements, fifth and sixth is the best they can really hope for. But you never know. That's just where they are at the

moment. It's a much earlier start than yesterday's qualifying, with lights out at Noon BST in Baku. We will be here for all of the build up, live updates and reaction from what we

hope is another thriller in Azerbaijan.