Sergio Perez after Azerbaijan GP win: Max Verstappen deserved the win

Race winner Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit yesterday

Red Bull's Sergio Perez won a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday as both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton failed to finish.

Sebastian Vettel for Aston Martin and Pierre Gasly for Alpha Tauri completed the unexpected podium after the streets of Baku lived up to their reputation for delivering an afternoon of drama and tension. Verstappen crashed with five laps to go and the sixth race of the season at his mercy.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing kicks his tyre in frustration after crashing at the Baku City Circuit yesterday. Pics/Getty Images

Hamilton then locked up at the restart when on target for second. As the dust began to settle on the banks of the Caspian Sea, Verstappen retained his slender four point lead in the drivers standings. His team-mate Perez gained his first win since joining Red Bull and the second of his career.

‘A fantastic result'

"I'm so happy for today. Normally Baku is pretty crazy but I have to say sorry to Max. "He deserved the win today and it would have been good for the team to get a 1-2, but the win is a fantastic result."

Lewis Hamilton (left), driving the 44 Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team runs wide after locking up at the restart following a red flag period during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku yesterday

Perez inherited the lead when Verstappen's left rear tyre shredded triggering a high-speed crash in the straight as he was set to collect his second consecutive win and third of the season.

Race stops to clear debris

"Tyre!" shouted a distraught Verstappen on the team radio. After a red-flag stoppage lasting more than half an hour to clear debris from Verstappen's stricken car, the grand prix resumed from the grid with a two lap sprint to the chequered flag.

Hamilton looked to have the measure of Perez but the Mercedes seven-time world champion spun off at turn one, leaving the band to play the Mexican rather than British national anthem.

Pole-sitter Charles Leclerc came in fifth ahead of Fernando Alonso for Alpine and Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda celebrating his highest finish for Alpha Tauri in seventh.

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