F1 standings shake-up after Max Verstappen's dominating win at Azerbaijan GP; all you need to know

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix brought thrilling action to Baku, with Max Verstappen dominating for a lights-to-flag victory. The Red Bull star led all 51 laps, but the Drivers’ Championship race tightened as Lando Norris closed the gap to leader Oscar Piastri to 25 points after Piastri’s first-lap crash. In the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren held their lead, while Mercedes and Red Bull made significant moves, reshaping the order.

What happened in the race?

Max Verstappen was untouchable in Baku, starting from pole and finishing 14.609 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, who secured second. Carlos Sainz delivered a standout performance for Williams, claiming his first podium with the team in third.

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli narrowly missed the podium in fourth, showing impressive pace. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson led a fierce midfield battle to take a career-best fifth, followed by Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Lando Norris (McLaren), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), and Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) in the top 10.

Piastri’s early crash handed Norris a chance to close the championship gap, while strategic racing and tire management defined the midfield. The Baku circuit’s demanding layout tested every driver, making Verstappen’s flawless drive even more remarkable.

2025 F1 Driver Standings After Azerbaijan GP

The Drivers’ Championship is heating up, with Norris capitalizing on Piastri’s misfortune to narrow the lead. Verstappen’s win keeps him firmly in contention, while Russell and Leclerc hold strong in the top five.

Here are the updated top 10 standings:

Position 1: Oscar Piastri (AUS, McLaren) – 324 points

Position 2: Lando Norris (GBR, McLaren) – 299 points

Position 3: Max Verstappen (NED, Red Bull) – 255 points

Position 4: George Russell (GBR, Mercedes) – 212 points

Position 5: Charles Leclerc (MON, Ferrari) – 165 points

Position 6: Lewis Hamilton (GBR, Ferrari) – 121 points

Position 7: Kimi Antonelli (ITA, Mercedes) – 78 points

Position 8: Alexander Albon (THA, Williams) – 70 points

Pos 9: Isack Hadjar (FRA, Racing Bulls) – 39 points

Pos 10: Nico Hulkenberg (GER, Sauber) – 37 points

2025 F1 Constructor Standings After Azerbaijan GP

McLaren remained at the top of the Constructors’ Championship, increasing their tally from 617 to 623 points, though their haul was less dominant than hoped.

On the other hand, Mercedes jumped to second with 290 points, overtaking Ferrari (286 points), after Russell’s podium and Antonelli’s solid fourth. Red Bull climbed to 272 points, while Williams (101 points) and Racing Bulls (72 points) gained ground in the midfield.

The full standings are as follows:

Position 1: McLaren – 623 points

Position 2: Mercedes – 290 points

Position 3: Ferrari – 286 points

Position 4: Red Bull – 272 points

Position 5: Williams – 101 points

Position 6: Racing Bulls – 72 points

Position 7: Aston Martin – 62 points

Position 8: Sauber – 55 points

Position 9: Haas – 44 points

Position 10: Alpine – 20 points

(More to follow)