What the teams and drivers took away from Azerbaijan
The Baku City Circuit delivered its usual mix of opportunity and peril, and the paddock's debriefs reflected that balance. Max Verstappen's win — his second in a row — reopened the title debate, while McLaren faced a bruising Sunday shaped by Oscar Piastri's early crash and a slow service for Lando Norris.
Winners, losers and the DRS train
Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson anchored a decisive DRS train that set the tone for the final stint, keeping Yuki Tsunoda, Norris and Lewis Hamilton bottled up. Execution in the pits, tyre preparation and track position proved critical once the pack settled.
McLaren's mixed bag
Norris salvaged points but lamented pace at lower-downforce venues and a car that remains demanding at the limit. Team boss Andrea Stella spotlighted pitstop hardware after a 4.1s delay, underscoring the margins that can swing Sundays.
Ferrari's internal housekeeping
Ferrari's late team-orders plan misfired: Hamilton could not complete the agreed swap back to Leclerc, prompting an apology from the Briton and a call from Leclerc to focus on respect and performance rather than P8 vs P9.
What comes next
With Singapore up next, the field heads to a high-downforce, high-commitment street circuit that will test recent development gains. For Red Bull, it's a chance to prove its step transfers; for McLaren and Ferrari, a reset and refinement beckon.
