RACE REACTION: Verstappen completes grand slam in what was a mega weekend in Baku

Baku delivered one of those performances that remind everyone exactly why Max Verstappen has been one of Formula 1’s defining drivers. At the 2025 Azerbaijan GP, he didn’t just win — he dominated. Pole position, fastest lap, leading every single lap, and taking the checkered flag: a grand slam that boosted not only his confidence, but significantly tightened the championship picture.

What Happened: The Grand Slam

• Pole Position: Verstappen started the weekend strong, claiming pole in qualifying. It was a chaotic session, but he kept his cool and grabbed the top spot. 

• Leading Every Lap: From lights out to the flag, Verstappen was in front, never letting slip. 

• Fastest Lap: He also took fastest lap in the race, adding another element to his total dominance. 

• Victory: All of that translated into a convincing win in Baku — about 14 seconds ahead of George Russell in second.

That’s what we call a grand slam weekend — and this was one of Verstappen’s best.

Championship Implications

This wasn’t just a statement win — it moved the needle in the title fight:

• Points Swing: With Oscar Piastri crashing out on lap 1 in a dramatic start to his weekend, McLaren lost a big opportunity to put more points on the board. 

• Verstappen narrowed the championship gap. Before Baku, he trailed Piastri by a substantial margin; after Baku, that gap reduced to about 69 points with seven races remaining. 

• Momentum Shift: Two wins in a row (Monza + Baku) show Red Bull is back to being a major threat — especially on circuits that favour their upgrades and speed. McLaren might have had to rethink their lead strategy. Andrea Stella (McLaren’s team principal) asserted that Verstappen remains a legitimate title threat. 

Verstappen’s Comments: How He Reacted

Even after such a dominant display, Verstappen stayed grounded in his post-race comments. Some of the key things he said:

• He acknowledged that everything needs to go perfectly for him to challenge for the title now. Lucky breaks will help too.

• He’s not getting ahead of himself, choosing to focus race by race instead of projecting too far ahead.

• On the car and weekend, he remarked that in Baku “the car was working really well… it was pretty straightforward.” Windy conditions and all, he seemed pleased with how well Red Bull managed the setup and race pace.

How Big is “Grand Slam #6” for Verstappen?

By achieving this in Baku, Verstappen not only adds another win to his tally but also records his sixth career grand slam, tying him with Lewis Hamilton for second most grand slams in F1 history (Jim Clark still leads). 

It’s also his first grand slam since the 2024 Bahrain GP. 

What This Means Going Forward: Can He Do It Again?

Here are some thoughts on how this weekend might affect his chances in the remaining races:

• With seven races and three sprints still to go, there’s still enough on the table for Verstappen to mount a serious charge — but he’ll need to maximize every opportunity. Mistakes, DNFs, or poor weekends will cost him. 

• McLaren’s error in Baku (Piastri’s crash) gave Verstappen room to close but didn’t deliver them completely out of control. McLaren still have strength in depth, and Norris is still in the fight. 

• Similar grand slam weekends are rare and difficult. Even for Verstappen, replicating this level consistently is tough. But this performance suggests Red Bull’s upgrades (car balance, setup, etc.) are working well — if they carry that form into upcoming tracks, Verstappen could turn this into a serious title push.

Final Thoughts

Max Verstappen’s performance in Baku was about as perfect a race weekend as a driver can have. A grand slam is always rare. Getting one at this point in the season when he needed to make up ground makes it even more significant.

He hasn’t won the championship yet, and McLaren still have a lead, but this weekend tells us that the fight is far from over — Red Bull is dangerous again, Verstappen is confident, and the door to the title has swung slightly more open.

If he can keep this level of consistency — convert poles into wins, avoid errors, and make the most of chaotic races — we could be in for a gripping final stretch of the 2025 season.