Formula 1: Zhou Guanyu forced to retire from Azerbaijan Grand Prix as difficult rookie year continues in Baku
- Another grand prix ends early for China’s first F1 driver, who has now been forced out of three races in his Alfa Romeo
- Victory for Max Verstappen sees Red Bull take first and second on the Baku podium
Zhou became the third retirement after Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, on lap 24, because of what his team described as a technical issue.
“Are you kidding me? Again?” Zhou was heard saying over his team radio.
A statement from Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen said Zhou had been running “a brilliant race” before he was forced to withdraw. This was Zhou’s third retirement in four races, and extends a run of bad luck that has plagued the driver since making the jump from F2.
World champion Max Verstappen led a Red Bull one-two ahead of teammate Sergio Perez in a potentially key moment of the title race after Leclerc and Ferrari endured another dose of race day misery. Having started fifth, Mercedes driver George Russell secured the final podium place.
Verstappen’s fifth win of the season tightened his grip on the standings with Perez now moving into second ahead of the pointless Leclerc.
Leclerc, who started from pole, lost the lead at the start but regained it when Verstappen pitted on lap 19. One lap later, Leclerc’s race went up in a puff of smoke and he crawled back to the pits to retire. Ferrari later confirmed the power unit was the problem.
“Was that a good race or what?” Verstappen asked his team over the radio.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner replied that Verstappen had won with “a very mature drive”.
Verstappen leads the standings by 21 points over Pérez, with Leclerc dropping to third and is 34 points behind Verstappen.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was awarded Driver of the Day, after starting seventh and finishing strong in fourth.
Hamilton complained of back pain from the Mercedes’ tendency to bounce at high speed, and was holding his lower back as he climbed out of the car after the race.
“Let’s definitely make some changes,” he told team boss Toto Wolff.
Sebastian Vettel took P6 for Aston Martin having begun the race on medium tyres, pitting during the first VSC and finishing the race on hards.
Zhou Guanyu has made his critics look stupid, says Alfa Romeo boss Vasseur
Alpine’s Fernando Alonso started 10th but made it up to seventh having begun on medium tyres, going long on his first stint and pitting after 18 laps to finish the race on hard tyres and beat both McLarens to P7.
Daniel Ricciardo finished eighth from 12th, starting on hard tyres to jump Lando Norris (P9). Rounding out the top 10 was Esteban Ocon, who started from 13th on hard tyres and took the final point for Alpine.
Valtteri Bottas missed out on points in P11, the Alfa Romeo driver having begun on hards and, like Ricciardo, pitted during the second VSC of the race.
