NOT SWAPPING Verstappen-Hadjar was correct | NERVOUS but in control George Russell | Baku F1 classic

Baku looked like a snooze fest—until it suddenly turned into one of the most chaotic, revealing races of the season.

George Russell’s control, Max Verstappen’s pressure, McLaren’s self-inflicted damage, and a restart that left everyone arguing: this Azerbaijan Grand Prix had drama, but not always the kind you expected.

Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah break down why the race felt flat for long stretches despite the headline numbers, including a finish separated by just 0.196 seconds. They unpack the race’s unusual rhythm, the “yo-yo racing” that never fully arrived, and why the second half exploded into the Baku chaos fans were waiting for.

Chapters

00:00 Race setup: snooze fest or dramatic finish?

01:07 Why Baku needed a safety car

02:30 George Russell’s controlled win

03:33 Rating the race and the second-half chaos

05:00 Tire strategy and Red Bull’s team orders

08:01 Could Max Verstappen have caught Russell?

11:13 Red Bull’s double podium and momentum

12:47 McLaren’s costly mistakes