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Components One championship chief Max Verstappen has unfinished enterprise to handle at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix whereas additionally trying to reassert himself as Crimson Bull’s lead driver.
The Dutchman was heading for victory on the Baku road observe final 12 months when a tyre exploded and pitched him into the barrier on the excessive velocity run alongside town’s Caspian Sea waterfront.
Mexican workforce mate Sergio Perez took the win as an alternative and returns triumphant and as a possible title contender after his victory two weeks in the past in Monaco.
Verstappen can be decided to cease him changing into the primary driver to win twice in Baku.
“I am trying ahead to returning to Baku, now we have some unfinished enterprise there after final 12 months,” mentioned the 24-year-old who has a 9 level lead over Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc with Perez an additional six behind.
“Final 12 months was unfortunate, easy as that,” he mentioned.
“It was a really painful one, however that occurs. That is racing… it is completely different automobiles, completely different tyres (this time) and we go once more.”
Perez, who was additionally on the rostrum in Baku twice whereas racing for Pressure India, is within the type of his life and with a brand new two-year contract with Crimson Bull freshly signed.
The 6km lengthy Baku road observe, a mixture of flat-out blasts and tight corners lined by unforgiving limitations, is famed for unpredictable races and has produced 5 completely different winners in 5 years on the calendar.
Leclerc is acquainted with the observe’s pitfalls, having crashed whereas heading in the right direction for pole place in 2019.
The Monegasque and Ferrari, chasing a primary title since 2008, will need the weekend to go completely after potential wins slipped by means of their fingers in Monaco and Spain.
Seven instances world champion Lewis Hamilton can even be eager to make amends after failing to capitalise on Verstappen’s retirement final 12 months when he went from second to fifteenth in Baku, having by chance triggered a ‘brake magic’ perform on his steering wheel.
His Mercedes workforce are probably the most profitable in Baku, with three wins. A fourth seems a distant prospect until the observe throws up one other shock.
“Baku typically produces some enjoyable and loopy observe motion, and the format generates good racing alternatives,” mentioned Mercedes workforce boss Toto Wolff.
“So, let’s have a look at if it lives as much as its status this weekend.”
The opportunity of podium look by a midfield workforce is at all times there. Other than Perez’s Pressure India exploits, Sebastian Vettel was second final 12 months for Aston Martin with Pierre Gasly third for AlphaTauri.
Lance Stroll’s first top-three outcome got here in Baku with Williams in 2017.
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