After yesterday’s qualifying and with Nico Hülkenberg and Romain Grosjean penalties due to the switch of their gear box, the beginning of the race was crazy; in less than a complete turn to the circuit, the safety car had to step in.
Several drivers had been involved in the entrance of the safety car. Ocon had to abandon after a crash with Räikkönen. At the same time, Nico Hülkenberg unleashed a crash between Sergey Sirtokin and Fernando Alonso, leaving Williams driver out of the race, however, Alonso could return to boxes with difficulties, he had a flat tyre on the two right wheels and his McLaren damaged. Thus, Alonso and Räikkönen switched to soft tires, thinking about doing a strong end of race.
The drivers knew that the race would be tough and has been like it almost all the race. After the safety car, Verstappen without any doubts has overtaken his Red Bull team mate Daniel Ricciardo. The Austrian knew that this would be that they will fight each other urn after turn in this race. Moreover , both RB14 had problems with their batteries.
The duel of strategies was on, and Renault, with the ultra soft tire, seems to have advantage over Red Bull at that moment. Later on, Hülkenberg made a mistake and broke his back Wheel with one of the walls of the Baku circuit. Sainz was struggling with his tyre wear, due to that situation the Red Bulls, Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll has passed him, showing that was the time for the drivers who had started with the ultra soft to go to boxes.
At the same time the drivers that had started with soft or ultra soft continued on the track because it was the time to prove their strategy. The race, was calm at the moment but with Verstappen and Ricciardo battling for the lead.
At the end, Vettel and Hamilton the strategies of doing only one stop have worked out as expected. On the other hand, Ricciardo, has take out of the race Max Verstappen with a similar situation that happened in the 2010 Turkey GP. Taking profit of that situation the drivers had enter on boxes, even Räikkönen and Alonso.
Grosjean, has lost control of his Haas after the safety car, and has crashed into the wall. After the safety car, Bottas was leading the group. Vettel on his part tried to regain the leadership that Bottas had with his Mercedes, but he did not succeeded and Lewis Hamilton that was very close to him, has overtook him. A lap later due to carbon fiber that was on the track Bottas has lost what it seemed a certain victory.
Hamilton has been able to win and be placed as a leader of the championship; for the first time with Räikkönen and Sergio Pérez returning to the podium and gaining his first points of the season. Charles Leclerc has been p6 and Lance Stroll p9 gaining their first points of the season and making all the teams have 1 point minimum. The incident between the Red Bull would be under investigation.
