Max Verstappen leads title race in Baku

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen heads into his first race as Formula One leader looking for his first podium finish at a previously troublesome circuit, and with the focus on his Red Bull car's rear wing. The Dutch driver, 23, has been a potential championship contender since he made his debut in 2015 when he was only 17.

Some rivals, particularly Mercedes, have argued Red Bull's rear wing flexes too much at high speed and reduces drag. That would be a particular benefit in Azerbaijan, which has the longest straight of any circuit on the calendar.

Governing body FIA is introducing new tests to measure how rigid wings are. However, they only take effect from June 15, ahead of the French Grand Prix. Hamilton was vocal last month of what he called the "bendy" Red Bull wing and previously said it made the rival cars faster at the Spanish Grand Prix, which he won.

"Regardless of what I think, it doesn't really make a difference," Hamilton said Thursday. "The fact is they passed the tests that are given for this weekend so we proceed in the way things are. Of course it is an advantage on the straight."

Verstappen has struggled in Baku in the past, with no podium finishes and two retirements in his four races. The low point came in 2018, when he tried to block then-teammate Daniel Ricciardo at the end of the long straight.

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