Verstappen Dominates Baku, Piastri's Title Lead Shrinks Amid Crashes

Max Verstappen's commanding victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has significantly narrowed the championship gap, as title leader Oscar Piastri suffered a disastrous weekend, crashing out on the opening lap just a day after a qualifying shunt. While Piastri remains outwardly unconcerned about Verstappen's resurgence, international media highlights the Dutchman's dominant form and the Australian's uncharacteristic mistakes.

Why it matters:

After a strong start to the season, Oscar Piastri's double crash in Baku has opened the door for Max Verstappen, raising questions about the championship's trajectory. Verstappen's back-to-back wins since the summer break demonstrate his relentless pursuit of a fifth consecutive title, putting immense pressure on Piastri and McLaren to regain their form and maintain their lead.

The Details:

• Verstappen's Dominance: The Times (UK) lauded Verstappen's 'dominant display in Baku,' refusing to count him out of the title fight. He secured pole by four-tenths in tricky conditions and has clawed back 35 points from Piastri in two races.
• Piastri's Woes: De Telegraaf (Netherlands) focused on Piastri's 'two shock crashes.' His Q3 shunt required a major overnight repair, including a survival cell change, and his race ended at Turn 5 after a 'uncharacteristic mistake' and a jumped start.
  • Despite the setbacks, Piastri reportedly 'admits his guilt, but is "not yet worried" about Max Verstappen.'
• Ferrari's Frustration: La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy) highlighted Ferrari's disappointing race after a promising Friday. Lewis Hamilton finished eighth, just ahead of Charles Leclerc in ninth, following a 'misunderstanding' over team orders where Hamilton failed to cede the position despite an earlier agreement to optimize tire strategy.
• Post-Race Journey: The Washington Post (US) featured a humorous anecdote of Leclerc and Carlos Sainz's post-race travel woes. Their flight to Nice was diverted to Italy due to a storm, leading Sainz to drive a rented van through the night to get them back to Monaco.
• FIA Presidency Bid: BILD (Germany) reported on the surprise entry of Laura Villars, a 28-year-old Swiss racing driver and businesswoman, into the FIA presidency election, aiming to become the first female president.
• Viral Moment: The Herald Sun (Australia) shared images of Piastri, unable to return to the paddock after his crash, watching the remainder of the race from the corner he exited, which went viral in Australia.

What's next:

Verstappen's resurgence sets up an intense championship battle. Piastri's ability to bounce back from this challenging weekend will be critical as the season progresses. McLaren will need to ensure their car's reliability and performance to support Piastri's title bid, while Ferrari will look to iron out strategic errors and maximize their potential in upcoming races.