Red Bull’s Mexican driver Sergo Perez emerged the winner of Sunday’s eventful Azerbaijan Grand Prix to earn only his second career victory.
The 31-year-old raced to the finish line after a Lewis Hamilton lock-up in Turn One with just one lap to go.
The drivers were forced to start the final lap from the starting point after a Red Flag which was prompted by a Max Verstappen crash with just five laps to go.
The crash seemed to have given Mercedes’ Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, the chance to leapfrog Verstappen from the top o the Drivers’ standings, but his front wheels locked up to ensure he also ended the race without a point.
Hamilton had just overtaken Perez after the restart, but after he veered off track, the Mexican pressed on to clinch victor and vital point for Red Bull in the chase for the Constructor’s title.
Sebastian Vettel, who started the race in 11, capped of a brilliant drive with a second-place finish ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly.
Ferrari’s Charles Lecrec finished fourth despite starting the race in pole position.
Lando Norris shrugged off a three-place penalty and undercut his rivals having started P9 to take fifth ahead of Fernando Alonso.
The second Alpha Tauri driver Yuki Tsunoda finished seventh ahead of Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, Daniel Ricciardo of McLaren and Alpha Romeo’s Kimi Räikkönen.
With both Mercedes drivers finishing off the points, Red Bull still had the better day, as Perez’s victory ensured they extended their lead at the top to 174 points 26 points ahead of the Silver Arrows team.
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