Max Verstappen came agonizingly close to victory at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, finishing just one tenth of a second behind race leader George Russell. Starting from eighth on the grid due to qualifying difficulties, Verstappen demonstrated strong race pace and determination as he fought his way through the field.
During the race, Verstappen initially struggled on medium tyres, which offered less grip compared to the soft compound. However, a Safety Car period early in the race allowed him and several others to switch to soft tyres, significantly improving his pace. After the restart, Verstappen moved up to third and then second place, setting the stage for a late-race battle with Russell.
The closing laps saw Verstappen closely challenging Russell, maintaining a gap of roughly one second. A yellow flag caused by Valtteri Bottas’s crash at Turn 15 provided Verstappen with a final slipstream opportunity. Despite pushing hard and taking risks, including running close to the wall at Turn 16, Verstappen narrowly missed overtaking the Mercedes driver.
Verstappen acknowledged that he “was trying everything” to secure the win but ultimately fell short. This result means he has yet to claim a victory in the 2026 season. Meanwhile, George Russell’s performance for Mercedes AMG kept him ahead in Baku, with Oscar Piastri of McLaren also featuring prominently in the race.
The race highlighted the impact of tyre performance and strategic timing of the Safety Car period, which played a crucial role in reshaping the running order. Verstappen’s ability to recover from a challenging qualifying session and mount a late charge underlines his competitiveness despite the season’s ongoing challenges.
Max Verstappen’s near-win in Azerbaijan reflects the fine margins that often decide races in the Formula 1® championship. His efforts to close the gap to Russell in the final stages demonstrated resilience and pace, even if victory remained just out of reach on this occasion.