Watch a dramatic race start in Baku as Piastri crashes

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix commenced with immediate drama as polesitter Max Verstappen maintained his lead, but championship leader Oscar Piastri suffered an early exit. Piastri, after struggling off the line and dropping down the order, locked up and crashed into the wall at Turn 5, ending his race prematurely. This incident could have significant implications for the intensely contested 2025 title battle. While Verstappen navigated the opening corners ahead of Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson, Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris also lost a position, falling to eighth.