Starting on hard tyres, Verstappen controlled the pace at the front, even as chaos unfolded behind him. The Australian’s wreck not only ruined his own afternoon but also reshaped the title fight, gifting rival Lando Norris a golden opportunity to claw back ground. McLaren attempted to recover Norris’ race with a long first stint on mediums, but a slow pit stop wrecked the strategy. The Bigger PictureBaku may have delivered its usual share of drama, but the narrative was clear: Verstappen is back, and the title race might not be a McLaren-only affair after all. The Dutchman left Baku not just with another win, but with a reminder: write him out of the title fight at your peril.