Russell Takes 15 Points Out of Antonelli
George Russell has cut Kimi Antonelli's Formula 1 championship advantage from 81 to 66 points after winning the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Russell converted pole position into his third victory of the season, holding off a charging Max Verstappen by just 0.196 seconds at the finish.
The result moved Russell to 236 points, 66 behind his Mercedes team-mate after 15 rounds.
81 points before Baku. 66 points after Baku.
Antonelli Limits Damage After Qualifying Crash
Antonelli faced an uphill battle after crashing during Q1 and starting the Grand Prix from 16th on the grid.
The championship leader recovered to fifth, scoring 10 points and limiting the damage on a weekend where Russell had been the driver to beat.
Russell, meanwhile, completed a near-perfect weekend after topping practice, taking pole by eight-tenths and controlling much of the race from the front.
Verstappen Makes Russell Work for Victory
The race was far from comfortable.
Two Safety Car periods erased Russell's advantage and brought Verstappen into contention. The Red Bull driver remained within striking distance during the closing laps before Russell held on at the line.
It was Russell's eighth career F1 victory and his first Grand Prix win since Austria in June. Verstappen took second, while returning Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar completed the podium.
Mercedes Title Fight Tightens
For Winbox Racing, Antonelli remains firmly in control of the championship — but Baku has given Russell exactly what he needed heading into the next stage of the season.
The Azerbaijan result also arrives at an important moment: Malaysia and Singapore are next, beginning with Formula 1's return to Sepang.
Russell now needs to turn one victory into sustained momentum if he is to continue reducing Antonelli's advantage.
15 points gained. 66 points remain.
The Mercedes championship battle isn't over yet.
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