Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Valtteri Bottas bounced back from his China disappointment with a commanding victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading from pole position to secure his second win of the season and reclaim the championship lead. The Finnish driver dominated the Baku street circuit, controlling the race from lights to flag despite intense pressure from teammate Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages. Bottas's victory marked Mercedes' fourth consecutive one-two finish to start the season, establishing a record-breaking run of dominance that effectively ended any championship suspense before the European campaign had even begun.

Hamilton pushed his teammate hard throughout the 51-lap race, closing to within a few seconds in the final stint but unable to find a way past on the tight street circuit. The reigning World Champion had to settle for second place, though the result still extended Mercedes' stranglehold on the championship. Sebastian Vettel completed the podium in third for Ferrari, delivering a solid if unspectacular performance after qualifying third on the grid. Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap despite finishing fifth, showcasing Ferrari's one-lap pace even as race victories remained elusive.

The race was relatively incident-free compared to Baku's dramatic history, with the high-speed street circuit failing to produce the chaos that had characterized previous editions. The main talking point was Mercedes' continued supremacy, as they became the first team since Williams in 1992-93 to score four consecutive one-two finishes to open a season. Bottas's victory moved him five points clear of Hamilton in the standings, though the championship battle between the two Silver Arrows drivers would prove to be the only genuine fight for the title as Mercedes pulled further away from their rivals.