Live updates: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Live updates: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

By Simon Smale

Lap 45: Verstappen is noted for failing to observe race directors instructions

Verstappen has been warned - I don't think it will result in a penalty...

Lap 44: Verstappen on the charge

He has closed very tight to the back of George Russell into Turn One. He is really pushing now but Russell has been brilliant so far and still, I think, has the faster car where it really counts down that straight.

Lap 43: Antonelli up to fifth

And now the championship leader is looking at Charles Leclerc after dispatching Lewis Hamilton with real ease. Can he close the three seconds down and then challenge Hadjar for a podium?

He could, you know.

Oscar should have just been happy with 4th. Cost himself 12pts! Redbulls were both faster. - Ashley

You're probably right, Ashley. But he is such a pure racer that he was never going to give up a podium without a fight. But on the medium tyres he obviously didn't quite have the heat in them that he had hoped, and got used to, on the softs under the first half of the race.

Lap 41: Russell holding off Verstappen

But the gap is closing all the time and Verstappen is going to be very, very interested over the next couple of laps at least. The gap is under a second and that pressure is going to ramp up more and more as the four-time champion starts to play his mind games. He is already four seconds ahead of his teammate - it's the two leaders and then daylight.

Lap 40: PIASTRI LOCKS UP AT TURN ONE!

OH THAT'S A DISASTER! Isack Hadjar has pressured the young Aussie and the McLaren locked up badly under breaking. He was defending so well but has spun into the run off area and Piastri as dropped to 15th!

Lap 39: Go go go!

George Russell has held his nerve and has held off the Dutch four-time world champion. Oscar Piastri does the same, fending a diving Isack Hadjar to retain third! That was a much cleaner restart, no issues as the pack races through the old town.

Lap 38: Safety car coming in

OK, let's try that again, shall we? Max Vertappen vs George Russell... Finally. And Verstappen wants to get things going early! Verstappen almost comes alongside the Englishman there under the safety car!

Lap 36: Lando Norris is out

It was Franco Colapinto who dived up the inside, locked up, and smashed into his teammate Pierre Gasly. "Oh my f****** God, I can't believe it. So many points gone," says Gasly. Gasly then collected Lando Norris. Arvid Lindblad had nowhere to go and he's crashed into his teammate Liam Lawson! Lawson: "Man, I love getting taken out by my teammate, that's pretty sick." Norris and Gasly are both out. Colapinto has limped through to the pits but he's being told to turn it off as well. He apologises to his teammate, and the team as he gets out the car.

Lap 36: Safety car has been re-deployed!

All cars are being told to go into the pit lane.

Lap 36: Verstappen is up to second!

Max Verstappen has overtaken Oscar Piastri! There is a crash behind at Turn One! Lando Norris is involved in it! George Russell is off and away again!

Lap 35: Safety car coming in this lap

It's all going to be on this restart. Can Piastri jump into the race lead?

Lap 34: Lapped cars can overtake the safety car

We're preparing for a restart. Isack has some "vibration on the gear box". The team suggest it might be speed they're going at behind the safety car. It would be awful luck for him if there is an issue. Russell is on the soft tyre. Piastri, medium. Verstappen, soft. Hadjar, Leclerc and Hamilton, medium. This restart will be interesting.

Lap 33: Hadjar wants Verstappen's help...

Some radio communication from Red Bull... "If Max isn't going to get the win, I'm going to need his help with Piastri," Hadjar says. "Understood," is the reply. The cars have all backed themselves up and are in a procession behind the safety car now. Russell's lead of 10 seconds has evaporated.

Lap 32: George Russell flies into the pits

Here comes the race leader. Piastri is in. Verstappen and Hadjar come in too, double stacking from the Red Bulls. Charles Leclerc comes in. Lewis Hamilton comes in too. None of those top six cars lose position on the road. Alex Albon's car is still in the wall...

Lap 31: Pit stops happen

Kimi Antonelli has dived into the pits. Lando Norris is in the pits too. They have made a quick change. The top six have not gone in.

Lap 31: ALEX ALBON IS IN THE WALL! SAFETY CAR

The top four have all passed the pit entry... Not another Madrid. It's a safety car.