Fast and furious: Ricciardo has won the hectic race at Baku while championship leaders collided

2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix proved to be the most spectacular race of the season with lots of surprises, crashes and overtaking

Formula 1 drivers have made a great show at the final day of Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Daniel Ricciardo from Red Bull Racing has won the chaotic race at Baku – but who could’ve predicted that right after the start?

The Australian started the race from 10^th on the grid and soon returned to pits to change tyres. “I came back at 17^th place”, – Ricciardo said after the finish.  And proved that everything is possible at Baku. Daniel stayed out of trouble, drove fast and finally realized he was leading 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix with no rivals around.

Valtteri Bottas’s race was even more hurry-scurry. The Finn drove into Kimi Raikkonen at the very beginning and had to stop to repair the car and change the front wing. At some point of the race Bottas occupied 18^th position – but didn’t give up. From being a lapped car Valtteri recovered to finish on the podium with a very tight battle with Lance Stroll at the end. Bottas outride his rival on the straight line of the final lap and managed to finish 2^nd. Lance Stroll, 18-years-old newcomer from Canada, made his best race of the season so far and finished 3^rd.

Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, two championship contenders, found their way to 4^th and 5^th respectively – but that was not an easy choice for them. Hamilton was leading the race at the start, Vettel was following him closely. Driving behind the safety car Hamilton was forced to move slowly. At some point Vettel burrowed his car into Hamilton’s Mercedes. After that Sebastian drew up with Lewis and pushed him with his wheels. Fortunately both cars could stay on the track but the Vellel’s maneuver definitely put the end to the respectful rivalry of two great champions.

The stewards penalized Vettel for causing a collision while Lewis Hamilton had to pit by himself to repair the damaged car. At the end Vettel finished 4^th ahead of Hamilton who occupied the 5^th position. Both were furious: the Brit was sure that his opponent deserved more severe punishment, the German couldn’t understand why he deserved that punishment at all.

Formula 2 race in the morning was not that controversial. Championship leader Charles Leclerc was the fastest man on the track but couldn’t convert it into victory. The Monegasque driver started from 8^thposition, dropped to 10^th at the start and began to pave his way for the lead immediately after that. Leclerc overtook everyone in commanding style – but right at the moment he moved up to 1^st position the stewards penalized Charles for failing to slow for yellow flags. After 10 seconds time penalty Leclerc moved to second place. Frenchman Norman Nato was announced as official winner of the Formula 2 sprint race at Baku City Circuit.

The bustling day at Baku City Circuit ended with a spectacular concert of Mariah Carey who thanked the fans for coming to the race and performed her best acts on stage.