Sports writing (EFE).- The Mexican Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez (Red Bull) won the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the fourth of the Formula One World Cup, held this Sunday at the Baku urban circuit, where he relegated to second and third place to his teammate, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) -who continues to lead the championship-, and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), respectively.
‘Czech’, 33, achieved his sixth victory since he started racing in F1, the second of the year and the second in Baku, where in the seven editions in which the Azerbaijani capital hosted a Grand Prix he has climbed to the podium five times ; by winning a race that the Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) finished in fourth and fifth position, respectively.
The English seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) finished sixth, just ahead of Canadian Lance Stroll, Alonso’s new teammate: who confirmed his third place in the World Cup with another sensational performance.
Verstappen, six points ahead of ‘Czech’
The brilliant Asturian driver has 60 points, 33 less than Verstappen -who aspires to win a third title in a row-, who leads with a six-point advantage over ‘Checo’, again sensational this Sunday, confirming his status as an expert on urban tracks, in which he achieved five of his six wins.
The other Mercedes, the Englishman George Russell, finished eighth in Baku; where he set the fastest lap in the race, which he snatched from ‘Mad Max’ at his last breath.
Englishman Lando Norris (McLaren) and Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) also entered the points, finishing ninth and tenth, respectively.
The Mexican Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez (Red Bull) also won the sprint test for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he relegated Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who had started from first place, to second place.