BAKU: World champion Max Verstappen led a Red Bull 1-2 in Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in a potentially key moment of the title race after Charles Leclerc and Ferrari endured another dose of raceday misery.
Sergio Perez had jumped pole sitter Leclerc to the first turn before Verstappen took control as first the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz and then Leclerc retired with engine problems.
George Russell took third with teammate Lewis Hamilton fourth for Mercedes who suffered badly from bouncing on the streets of Baku this weekend.
Verstappen’s fifth win of the season tightened his grip on the drivers’ standings with Perez now moving into second, 21 points behind, while the luckless Leclerc slipped to 34 points adrift.
“Was that a good drive or was that a good drive?” a pleased Verstappen asked over the team radio, mindful that he had ended his Baku jinx having never made the podium on any of his previous visits.
He hailed his car’s “incredible pace,” adding “we were a tiny bit lucky because of the retirement but nevertheless our car was really quick today, so I could have closed that gap, then you have a race on your hands.”
It was a memorable day for Red Bull who are now 80 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors’ championship ahead of round nine of the season in Montreal next week.
As for Ferrari their habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory through a combination of questionable strategy or unreliability issues is beginning to look potentially fatal for their title ambitions.
Leclerc for the fourth time was unable to convert pole into a win, and he had his head in his hands in frustration.
“Better days will come” if the team just sticks together, Sainz suggested.
That’s what Mercedes have been saying all season as they keep trying to unlock the full potential of their car which suffers more than most of the grid on the so-called ‘porpoising’ effect.
Hamilton had said before the race his back may not withstand being jolted around for the full 51 laps and he had difficulty: the Briton needed support to lift himself out of the cockpit after making it across the line.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff apologized to the seven-time world champion, saying: “This is a bit of a box to drive. And sorry for the back problems.”
“Well done guys,” Hamilton responded. “And well done on the strategy. Thank you on continuing to push.”
Verstappen wins in Baku to boost title defense as Leclerc limps out
https://arab.news/j5yc4
Verstappen wins in Baku to boost title defense as Leclerc limps out
- Sergio Perez had jumped pole sitter Leclerc to the first turn before Verstappen took control
- Verstappen’s fifth win of the season tightened his grip on the drivers’ standings
French FIFA World Cup winner Paul Pogba partners with Saudi camel racing team Al Haboob
- AS Monaco midfielder said joining Al Haboob felt like being invited into a new family, and saying yes was an easy decision
- Pogba: ‘I look for unique, exciting opportunities that challenge me and allow me to grow’
JEDDAH: French football icon and AS Monaco midfielder Paul Pogba signed on Wednesday a historic partnership with the world’s first professional camel racing team, Saudi-based Al Haboob, becoming their ambassador and shareholder.
Pogba’s involvement with Al Haboob, which was cofounded by entrepreneurs Omar Almaeena and Safwan Modir and competes across the Gulf Cooperation Council, brings unprecedented international attention to a sport long thriving under the regional spotlight.
The Frenchman said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining forces with Al Haboob. From the moment I spoke with Omar and Safwan, I felt their passion, their vision, and their genuine love for this sport.
“They are forward-thinking entrepreneurs who want to build something meaningful, and that energy is contagious — it’s something I picked up on from our very first meeting.
“Their ambition to elevate camel racing onto a global stage is something I truly connect with,” said Pogba, who added that joining Al Haboob felt like being invited into a new family, and saying yes was an easy decision.
Pogba is the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, UEFA Nations League champion, four-time Serie A champion with Juventus, and Europa League winner with Manchester United.
“I look for unique, exciting opportunities that challenge me and allow me to grow. Al Haboob represents exactly that: something fresh, something meaningful, and something exciting while staying true to who I am,” said Pogba.
Founded in Saudi Arabia, Al Haboob combines centuries-old heritage with elite performance, advanced veterinary care, and cinematic storytelling.
Almaeena and Modir, whose journey into the sport began in 2021 with the launch of RedSea Camel Co., also co-created and starred in the Netflix series “Camel Quest,” which highlighted camel culture across Saudi Arabia and followed their ambition to compete in major festivals.
Their long-term vision is to establish the world’s first professional Camel Racing League, elevating the sport to international standards while honoring its rich history.
“Paul’s involvement is transformational. This partnership is about more than racing; it is about sharing a heritage that deserves global recognition,” said Almaeena, an entrepreneur, actor, creative producer and endurance racing champion who represented Saudi Arabia in Compiegne, France, back in 2000.
Meanwhile, Modir, an entrepreneur and owner of multiple businesses in the camel sector, commented: “Al Haboob was never just a sporting idea; it is the embodiment of a national energy that believes the impossible can be achieved. This vision, this boldness, and this drive to break into new global frontiers are all inspired by the powerful leadership of our visionary guide and architect of our national transformation, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”
