Episode Details

George Russell led every lap of the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku for the first time in his career, then crossed the line less than two-tenths ahead of Max Verstappen after losing turbo on the final lap.

The Formula 1 race turned at the lap 35 restart. Franco Colapinto locked up and hit Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly, who took out Lando Norris. Norris came out swinging, saying some drivers shouldn't be in Formula 1 and calling for a race ban. Ciara Gillan says a world champion running eighth at a restart is just another driver in a car.

Oscar Piastri was running third until a lockup dropped him to 14th. Kimi Antonelli climbed from 16th to fifth and still leads the championship by 66 points.

Jamie Chadwick's Williams test also raises a bigger question: why has it taken 11 years since Susie Wolff for a woman to drive a Williams?

In this episode:

• Russell topped the practice sessions and qualified eight-tenths clear on pole
• Antonelli hit the wall in Q1, started 16th and finished fifth
• Isack Hadjar returned from a broken wrist to qualify fourth and finish third
• Seven DNFs, including the Colapinto, Gasly and Norris restart pile-up
• Norris calls for a race ban, and Ciara on his growing arrogance
• Flavio Briatore warns Argentine fans over online abuse of Alpine drivers
• Piastri's lockup from third to 14th, and Oscar Piastri's best qualifying in weeks
• Should Red Bull have swapped Hadjar and Verstappen? Jacques Villeneuve says no
• Carlos Sainz scores points for Williams, then takes a five-place grid drop for ignoring yellows
• Jamie Chadwick tests the Williams FW45, and why women wait so long

Hosted by Dianne Bortoletto, Instagram @travelletto.

With Ciara Gillan of Formula Live Pulse, Instagram @ciaragillan16.

Formula Live Pulse: https://www.f1livepulse.com/en/ get 10% off with code AWAYWEGO

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Next stop, Malaysia.