2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The (officially the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix ) was the 4th round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, held at Baku City Circuit on the weekend of April 28 to April 30 .
__TOC__
==Background==
===Sprint events===
===Championship standings before the race===
Going into the weekend, Max Verstappen leads the World Drivers' Championship with 69 points, 15 points from his teammate Sergio Pérez, second, and 24 from Fernando Alonso in third. Red Bull Racing, with 123 points, lead the Constructors' Championship from Aston Martin and , who are second and third with 65 and 56 points, respectively.
===Weekend format===
As the season progresses, motorsport enthusiasts are in for a treat with the first race featuring an innovative addition to the schedule - the exhilarating sprint race. The new format promises to bring a fresh dose of excitement to the Grand Prix weekend.
The action-packed weekend will commence with a single practice session on Friday, allowing drivers to fine-tune their strategies and get a feel for the circuit. However, the real battleground will be the qualifying session, determining the starting grid for the prestigious Sunday's Grand Prix.
Saturday's schedule sees a notable change, as the traditional second practice session makes way for the highly anticipated "Sprint Shootout" qualifying. This gripping session will play a pivotal role in deciding the grid for the sprint race, elevating the stakes for all participants.
To the delight of fans, Sunday's Grand Prix will showcase the thrilling outcome of the sprint shootout. With its condensed format, drivers will face intense challenges in the quest for optimal starting positions.
The sprint shootout qualifying will feature three stages, each with progressively shorter durations. Q1 will test drivers' mettle for 12 minutes, followed by Q2 with a 10-minute battle, and culminating in the heart-pounding Q3 with just 8 minutes on the clock.
Adding another layer of intrigue, the new regulations stipulate that fresh tires are mandatory for each phase of the sprint shootout. Medium tires will be utilized in Q1 and Q2, offering a strategic puzzle for teams to solve. In contrast, the high-performance soft tires will be reserved for the adrenaline-filled Q3, presenting a tantalizing challenge for drivers to master.
Excitement is building among fans and drivers alike, as they eagerly await the action-packed weekend. The innovative sprint race format promises to test the skill, determination, and adaptability of the competitors, making it an unmissable event in the racing calendar.
As Sunday's Grand Prix approaches, anticipation soars, and all eyes are on the outcome of the sprint shootout, which will undoubtedly set the stage for a thrilling and unforgettable motorsport spectacle.
=== Track changes ===
The second DRS activation point was moved further forward, which is being positioned after turn 20.
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
Official Entry List of 
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Max Verstappen 	Oracle Red Bull Racing 	 	RB19 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
2 	Logan Sargeant 	Williams Racing 	 	FW45 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
4 	Lando Norris 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL37 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	BWT Alpine F1 Team 	 	A523 	 	E-Tech RE23 1.6L V6t 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	Oracle Red Bull Racing 	 	RB19 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
14 	Fernando Alonso 	Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team 	 	AMR23 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	SF-23 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team 	 	AMR23 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
20 	Kevin Magnussen 	MoneyGram Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-23 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
21 	Nyck de Vries 	Scuderia AlphaTauri 	 	AT04 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	Scuderia AlphaTauri 	 	AT04 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
23 	Alexander Albon 	Williams Racing 	 	FW45 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
24 	Guanyu Zhou 	Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake 	 	C43 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
27 	Nico Hulkenberg 	MoneyGram Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-23 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
31 	Esteban Ocon 	BWT Alpine F1 Team 	 	A523 	 	E-Tech RE23 1.6L V6t 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 	 	W14 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	SF-23 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
63 	George Russell 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 	 	W14 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake 	 	C43 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
81 	Oscar Piastri 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL37 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
==Free Practice==
===Report===
===Practice Results===
The full results of the only practice session for the are outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Team 	Time 	Pos 	 	 	 	 	
1 	Max Verstappen 	 	1:42.315 	1 	 	 	 	 	
2 	Logan Sargeant 	 	1:44.900 	16 	 	 	 	 	
4 	Lando Norris 	 	1:43.125 	5 	 	 	 	 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	1:46.321 	19 	 	 	 	 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:42.454 	3 	 	 	 	 	
14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:43.560 	8 	 	 	 	 	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	1:42.352 	2 	 	 	 	 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	 	1:43.455 	7 	 	 	 	 	
20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	1:47.498 	20 	 	 	 	 	
21 	Nyck de Vries 	 	1:43.414 	6 	 	 	 	 	
22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	1:44.137 	14 	 	 	 	 	
23 	Alexander Albon 	 	1:43.628 	9 	 	 	 	 	
24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	1:43.748 	10 	 	 	 	 	
27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	1:44.323 	15 	 	 	 	 	
31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	1:45.955 	18 	 	 	 	 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:43.798 	11 	 	 	 	 	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	1:42.899 	4 	 	 	 	 	
63 	George Russell 	 	1:45.082 	17 	 	 	 	 	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:44.010 	13 	 	 	 	 	
81 	Oscar Piastri 	 	1:43.980 	12 	 	 	 	 	
Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
==Qualifying==
Qualifying was held on 28 April 2023 at 17:00 local time (UTC+4).
===Q1===
Following fire damage to his Alpine during the practice session, Pierre Gasly's car was repaired prior to qualifying. Zhou Guanyu briefly spun at turn 1, but recovered the car; moments later, Nyck de Vries locked up at turn 3 and slammed into the wall, damaging his suspension and causing the first red flag of the session. He ultimately posted a time above the 107% rule, though stewards allowed him to race. Following the restart, Gasly hit the same corner de Vries crashed into earlier, red-flagging the session once again. As such, Zhou, the two Haas cars of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg, Gasly and de Vries were knocked out of the first session.
===Q2===
The second session saw George Russell, Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas and the two Williams of Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant all knocked out; this marked Russell and the Mercedes team's first Q2 knockout since Singapore the prior year. The Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll suffered a DRS issue throughout qualifying, hindering their laps and disallowing them from qualifying higher than sixth and ninth position.
===Q3===
Charles Leclerc secured pole position ahead of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez and as such is his third consecutive pole in the Baku City Circuit, his and the Ferrari team's first of the season, and the first since the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix. His lap time of 1:40.203 set a new lap record at the circuit, beating the previous time of 1:41.359 set the previous year.
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	Q1 	Q2 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	Time 	Time 	Time 	Grid
1 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	1:41.269 	1:41.037 	1:30.203 	1
2 	1 	Max Verstappen 	 	1:41.398 	1:40.822 	1:40.391 	2
3 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:41.756 	1:41.131 	1:40.495 	3
4 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	1:42.197 	1:41.369 	1:41.016 	4
5 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:42.113 	1:41.650 	1:41.177 	5
6 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:41.720 	1:41.370 	1:41.253 	6
7 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	1:42.154 	1:41.485 	1:41.281 	7
8 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	1:42.234 	1:41.569 	1:41.581 	8
9 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	1:42.524 	1:41.576 	1:41.611Both Lance Stroll and Oscar Piastri has the same lap time of 1:41.611. However, as Stroll sets the time 39 seconds than Piastri, so he will starts in P9 and Piastri will start a in P10.	9
10 	81 	Oscar Piastri 	 	1:42.455 	1:41.636 	1:41.611 	10
11 	63 	George Russell 	 	1:42.073 	1:41.654 	N/A 	11
12 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	1:42.622 	1:41.798 	N/A 	- Offense - Car 31 - Changes mode during Parc Ferme (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
13 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	1:42.171 	1:41.818 	N/A 	12
14 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:42.582 	1:42.259 	N/A 	13
15 	2 	Logan Sargeant 	 	1:42.242 	1:42.395 	N/A 	14
16 	24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	1:42.642 	N/A 	N/A 	15
17 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	1:42.755 	N/A 	N/A 	- Offense - Car 27 - Changes mode during Parc Ferme (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
18 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	1:43.417 	N/A 	N/A 	16
19 	31 	Pierre Gasly 	 	1:44.853 	N/A 	N/A 	17
107% Time: 1:48.357 	107% Time: 1:48.357 	107% Time: 1:48.357 	107% Time: 1:48.357 	107% Time: 1:48.357 	107% Time: 1:48.357 	107% Time: 1:48.357 	107% Time: 1:48.357
- 	21 	Nyck de Vries 	 	1:55.282 	N/A 	N/A 	18Decision - Car 21 - Failing to set a time within 107% (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
;Notes
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
*Nyck de Vries unable to set a time within 107%, he was permitted to start according to the steward's decision.
*Esteban Ocon is required to start from the pit lane for both sprint race and the feature race as his team changes the suspension setup under Parc Fermé.
* Nico Hülkenberg is required to start from the pit lane for the feature race as his team changes the suspension setup under Parc Fermé.
===Race Grid===
Show Grid
==Sprint Shootout==
===Sprint Shootout Report===
====SQ1====
The first segment saw Zhou, Bottas, Tsunoda, Gasly and De Vries knocked out. Twenty-five seconds before the session was to finish, Logan Sargeant, who was running eleventh, smashed his car's rear into the wall at turn 15, destroying the rear wing and suspension. Due to damage to his car, Sargeant could not continue the session, which would disallow him from setting a consecutive time for the second segment. The session was red-flagged and ended prematurely. Following the first segment, Gasly's car was reported to suffer from an exhaust leak.
====SQ2====
The second segment saw Piastri, Hülkenberg, Ocon, Magnussen and Sargeant knocked out. Two yellow flags were waved during the session; Hülkenberg locked up in sector 2 and nearly touched the wall. Sainz would also lock up, this time in turn 15. Towards the end of the session, Alonso gave his teammate Stroll a tow down the pit straight, greatly assisting his lap.
====SQ3====
Due to a lack of new soft tyres, Norris could not participate in the third session.<BR>Leclerc attained pole for the sprint behind Pérez and Verstappen despite locking up and crashing out on turn 5.
===Sprint Shootout Results===
The full sprint shootout results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	SQ1 	SQ2 	SQ3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	Time 	Time 	Time 	Grid
1 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	1:42.820 	1:42.500 	1:41.697 	1
2 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:43.858 	1:42.925 	1:41.844 	2
3 	1 	Max Verstappen 	 	1:43.288 	1:42.417 	1:41.987 	3
4 	63 	George Russell 	 	1:43.763 	1:43.112 	1:52.252 	4
5 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	1:43.622 	1:42.909 	1:42.287 	5
6 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:43.561 	1:43.061 	1:42.502 	6
7 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	1:43.987 	1:43.376 	1:42.846 	7
8 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:43.789 	1:42.976 	1:43.010 	8
9 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	1:43.879 	1:43.375 	1:43.064 	9
10 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	1:43.938 	1:43.395 	No Time 	10
11 	81 	Oscar Piastri 	 	1:44.179 	1:43.427 	N/A 	11
12 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	1:44.843 	1:43.806 	N/A 	12
13 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	1:44.433 	1:44.088 	N/A 	
14 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	1:44.101 	1:44.332 	N/A 	13
15 	2 	Logan Sargeant 	 	1:44.042 	No Time 	N/A 	- - Decision - Cad 2 - Withdrawal from the Sprint (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
16 	24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	1:45.177 	N/A 	N/A 	14
17 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:45.352 	N/A 	N/A 	15
18 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	1:45.436 	N/A 	N/A 	16
19 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	1:46.951 	N/A 	N/A 	17
20 	21 	Nyck de Vries 	 	1:48.180 	N/A 	N/A 	18
107% Time: 	107% Time: 	107% Time: 	107% Time: 	107% Time: 	107% Time: 	107% Time: 	107% Time:
Source:inal%20Sprint%20Shootout%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:inal%20Sprint%20Shootout%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:inal%20Sprint%20Shootout%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:inal%20Sprint%20Shootout%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:inal%20Sprint%20Shootout%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:inal%20Sprint%20Shootout%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:inal%20Sprint%20Shootout%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:inal%20Sprint%20Shootout%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
*Esteban Ocon is required to start from the pit lane for both sprint race and the feature race as his team changes the suspension setup under Parc Fermé.
*Logan Sargeant qualified 15th, but he did not take part in the sprint following a request made by the team to withdraw the car after the accident in the sprint shootout.
===Sprint Grid===
Show Sprint Grid
==Sprint Race==
===Report===
Sprint polesitter Charles Leclerc got a good start off the line to take the lead of the race. Max Verstappen and George Russell made contact going into turn 2, Russell inflicting damage to Verstappen's car and passing him for third place. Behind them, Fernando Alonso passed Alexander Albon for seventh place. As he went into turn 13, Yuki Tsunoda hit the wall, stripping the rear-left tyre off his AlphaTauri; the stricken tyre rolled down the track and debris was strewn around that corner, causing a virtual safety car to be called out. Tsunoda limped back into the pits to replace the tyre, though his damaged car was released in an unsafe condition with the rear wheels geometry being visibly off; he would retire the following lap. Soon, the virtual safety car period transitioned to a full safety car period to clear the debris left by Tsunoda's car. During this period, Esteban Ocon went into the pits to switch to soft tyres (he was one of the only two drivers who started on medium tyres, the rest starting on softs).
On lap five, the safety car period ended; as the cars went into turn 1, Verstappen passed Russell for third, and Lewis Hamilton would drop two places behind Carlos Sainz Jr. and Alonso. The DRS was enabled on lap seven, giving Sergio Pérez the opportunity to pass Leclerc on the main straight; he kept the lead until the end of the race. Lando Norris pitted after lap 10, switching to the medium compound; soon afterward Ocon switched to new softs. Pérez pulled away from second-placed Leclerc, who was now being pressured by Verstappen in third; by lap 17, Pérez had a 4.7 second gap ahead of Leclerc. Verstappen finished in third; Russell went home in fourth.
===Sprint Results===
The full results for the sprint race of are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	17 	33:17.667 	2 	8
2 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	17 	+4.463 	1 	7
3 	1 	Max Verstappen 	 	17 	+5.065 	3 	6
4 	63 	George Russell 	 	17 	+8.532 	4 	5
5 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	17 	+10.388 	5 	4
6 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	17 	+11.613 	8 	3
7 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	17 	+16.503 	6 	2
8 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	17 	+18.417 	9 	1
9 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	17 	+21.757 	7 	
10 	81 	Oscar Piastri 	 	17 	+22.851 	11 	
11 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	17 	+27.990 	13 	
12 	24 	Zhou Guanyu 	 	17 	+34.602 	14 	
13 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	17 	+36.918 	17 	
14 	21 	Nyck de Vries 	 	17 	+41.626 	18 	
15 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	17 	+48.587 	12 	
16 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	17 	+49.917 	15 	
17 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	17 	+51.104 	10 	
18 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	17 	+1:00.621 	 	
Ret 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	2 	 	16 	
 	2 	Logan Sargeant 	 	0 	Accident in SQ1 	— 	
Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez 1:43.616 on Lap 11 	Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez 1:43.616 on Lap 11 	Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez 1:43.616 on Lap 11 	Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez 1:43.616 on Lap 11 	Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez 1:43.616 on Lap 11 	Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez 1:43.616 on Lap 11 	Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez 1:43.616 on Lap 11 	Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez 1:43.616 on Lap 11
Source:%20-%20Final%20Sprint%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Sprint%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Sprint%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Sprint%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Sprint%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Sprint%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Sprint%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Sprint%20Classification.pdf - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
==Race==
=== Race report ===
Polesitter Charles Leclerc led the race until lap four; Alexander Albon and Oscar Piastri made contact coming into turn 2, inflicting damage to the Williams' wing. The contact was investigated and no further action was taken. The DRS was enabled on lap three, with Max Verstappen utilising it to pass Leclerc into the first corner. Sergio Pérez would repeat the same move on lap six to take second place. Pierre Gasly entered the pit lane on lap six to switch to the hard compound.
As lap ten concluded, Verstappen went into the pit lane to switch tyres, exiting in third position, but he would be inconvenienced as Nyck de Vries would cause a yellow flag and subsequent safety car; he had locked up and ran wide into the barrier, without contacting it, at turn 6. The Dutchman was unable to recover the car and subsequently retired. During the safety car period, Pérez changed into a fresh hard compound and subsequently took the lead of the race, with Leclerc also switching to the hards. George Russell also benefited from the safety car, jumping Lance Stroll and taking sixth place. Russell's entry into the pit lane was deemed by the stewards to be dangerous and was investigated by race control, with no further investigation required. Zhou Guanyu retired on lap 39 following mechanical problems.
Pérez, Verstappen and Leclerc would be the top three drivers for the rest of the race as Pérez took his second Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory.
===Pit lane safety issues and investigation===
During the final lap of the race, an incident occurred where officially FIA-appointed personnel allowed photographers to cross into the fast lane of the pits to prepare to photograph the parc fermé and podium celebrations, even though the race was still active. Alpine driver Esteban Ocon was forced to avoid several photographers whilst coming in for his mandatory pit stop. As a result, the race stewards launched an investigation into the matter and, subsequently, recommended that changes be made to end of race parc fermé procedures to prevent a repeat of the occurrence.
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	51 	1:32:42.436 	3 	25
2 	1 	Max Verstappen 	 	51 	+2.137s 	2 	18
3 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	51 	+21.217s 	1 	15
4 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	51 	+22.024s 	6 	12
5 	55 	Carlos Sainz Jr. 	 	51 	+45.491s 	4 	10
6 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	51 	+46.145s 	5 	8
7 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	51 	+51.617s 	9 	6
8 	63 	George Russell 	 	51 	+74.240s 	11 	5
9 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	51 	+80.376s 	7 	2
10 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	51 	+83.862s 	8 	1
11 	81 	Oscar Piastri 	 	51 	+86.501s 	10 	
12 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	51 	+88.623s 	12 	
13 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	51 	+89.729s 	16 	
14 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	51 	+91.332s 	17 	
15 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	51 	+97.794s 	 	
16 	2 	Logan Sargeant 	 	51 	+100.943s 	14 	
17 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	50 	+1 Lap 	 	
18 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	50 	+1 Lap 	13 	
Ret 	24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	36 	Cooling 	15 	
20 	21 	Nyck de Vries 	 	9 	Crashed 	18 	
Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
==Milestones==
* 3rd consecutive Pole Position of Charles Leclerc in Azerbaijan Grand Prix
** Leclerc becomes the only driver to three Pole Position in Azerbaijan Grand Prix
*6 Career Victory of Sergio Pérez
**2 Azerbaijan Grand Prix win of Sergio Pérez
***Sergio Pérez also becomes the first driver who had secure more than one victory in Azerbaijan Grand Prix
**2 win of Sergio Pérez in 
*96 win of 
**3 one-two finish of in 
**4 consecutive win of 
***5 consecutive cross season
**4 win of 
==Championship Standings After the Race==
World Drivers' Championship 	World Drivers' Championship 	World Drivers' Championship 	World Drivers' Championship
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts 	+/-
 	Max Verstappen 	93 	-
 	Sergio Pérez 	87 	-
 	Fernando Alonso 	60 	-
4th 	Lewis Hamilton 	48 	-
5th 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	34 	-
6th 	Charles Leclerc 	28 	4
7th 	George Russell 	28 	-
8th 	Lance Stroll 	27 	2
9th 	Lando Norris 	10 	1
10th 	Nico Hülkenberg 	6 	1
11th 	Oscar Piastri 	4 	2
12th 	Valtteri Bottas 	4 	1
13th 	Esteban Ocon 	4 	1
14th 	Pierre Gasly 	4 	-
15th 	Guanyu Zhou 	2 	-
16th 	Yuki Tsunoda 	2 	-
17th 	Alexander Albon 	1 	1
18th 	Kevin Magnussen 	1 	1
Source: %20-%20Championship%20Points.pdf - Championship Points (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20Championship%20Points.pdf - Championship Points (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20Championship%20Points.pdf - Championship Points (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20Championship%20Points.pdf - Championship Points (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
:Note: Only point-scoring drivers are shown
World Constructors' Championship	World Constructors' Championship	World Constructors' Championship	World Constructors' Championship
Pos. 	Constructor 	Pts 	+/-
 	 	180 	-
 	 	87 	-
 	 	76 	-
4th 	 	62 	-
5th 	 	14 	-
6th 	 	8 	-
7th 	 	7 	-
8th 	 	6 	-
9th 	 	2 	-
10th 	 	1 	-
Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source:
==See Also==
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2023 Grands Prix
Category:Azerbaijan Grand Prix