Russell fends off Verstappen to clinch Azerbaijan GP and cut Antonelli's title lead

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]Russell[/a] started from pole position and built an 11-second lead before safety cars allowed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Verstappen[/a] to nestle his Red Bull right behind the Mercedes.[/p][p]Verstappen chased Russell all the way home, manoeuvring close enough on the final lap for a last lunge on Turn 15, but Russell held the Dutchman off.[/p][p][b]"That was a fast last lap. He was touching,"[/b] said Russell at the finish.[/p][p][b]"After those yellows (flags), I lost the boost. I thought he was going to get me."[/b][/p][p]Verstappen was philosophical.[/p][p][b]"The final lap, George lost boost, and I got close, but it was not enough,"[/b] the four-time world champion said.[/p][embed guid="96abf7d0-450a-4851-bf6c-3480acfc9503" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2103838480547615054" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hadjar-isack/8SAk38Ui/"]Isack Hadjar[/a] in the other Red Bull was third. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leclerc-charles/KlCOSRub/"]Charles Leclerc[/a] was fourth for Ferrari.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Antonelli[/a], who led Russell by 81 points ahead of the race but started from 16th after a crash in qualifying, climbed through the field to finish fifth.[/p][p]The race was becalmed by two mid-race crashes.[/p][p]On lap 35, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/albon-alexander/OEbwYC7k/"]Alex Albon[/a] drove his Williams into a wall, bringing out the safety car, which allowed the field to concertina.[/p][embed guid="6d7cb3a8-76a4-4557-8477-04d148e10e77" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2103830055126184170" social-type="twitter" /][p]At the restart, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/colapinto-franco/GzFqySBA/"]Franco Colapinto[/a] lunged up the inside but ran out of space entering the next corner. He locked up and went sideways, pushing Alpine teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gasly-pierre/nqYFMBBf/"]Pierre Gasly[/a] into [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Lando Norris[/a] in a McLaren. The three went off the track in a synchronised slide.[/p][p]Both drivers for the struggling French team were in position for top-10 finishes.[/p][p][b]"Oh my God, oh my God. I don't believe it," [/b]said Gasly on team radio, adding a swear word. [b]"So many points gone."[/b][/p][p]The race ended under a yellow flag after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bottas-valtteri/bRJJqiGb/"]Valtteri Bottas[/a] rammed his Cadillac into a wall.[/p]