The FIA has issued its final post-race documentation for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, confirming the results after a dramatic race in Baku that featured multiple incidents, penalties and late-race investigations. Max Verstappen’s second-place finish has attracted particular attention as the FIA reviewed several incidents surrounding the Red Bull driver.
George Russell remains officially classified as the winner after producing a composed performance for Mercedes. Verstappen crossed the line second, just 0.196 seconds behind Russell, while Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar completed the podium on his return from injury. Charles Leclerc finished fourth, with Kimi Antonelli recovering spectacularly from 16th on the grid to take fifth.
However, Verstappen’s position became a subject of scrutiny following an incident involving Russell during a Safety Car period. The FIA investigated Verstappen after he pulled alongside Russell shortly before a restart. The regulations restrict drivers from pulling alongside another car during a Safety Car period, a rule that has been in place since 2021.
The investigation added another layer of drama to an already chaotic Azerbaijan weekend. Ultimately, the FIA’s published final race classification confirms Verstappen in second place, meaning there was no change to his finishing position from the incident. The official FIA documents list the final race classification and championship points following the various post-race decisions.
The biggest changes surrounding the final classification involved other drivers. The FIA issued several post-race decisions, including penalties connected to incidents during the race. One of the most significant involved Franco Colapinto, who was punished following the collision that ended the races of Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris and triggered another Safety Car period.
The Baku race itself had already produced a major shake-up in the championship. Russell converted pole position into victory, while Verstappen fought his way forward after starting eighth. The Dutchman eventually moved into second and put intense pressure on Russell during the closing laps, but the Mercedes driver held firm to secure his third victory of the 2026 season.
For Verstappen, the result was another missed opportunity. He came extremely close to claiming his first victory of the season but ultimately finished less than two-tenths of a second behind Russell. His Red Bull showed strong race pace, particularly after the Safety Car restarts, but the Dutchman could not find a way past the Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Antonelli’s recovery to fifth proved important for the championship picture. Despite starting deep in the field following his qualifying crash, the Mercedes driver collected valuable points and maintained his position at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.
With the FIA’s final classification now published, Verstappen officially retains his second-place result from Baku. The attention now shifts to the next round of the championship, where Red Bull will look to convert its improving race pace into a victory and Verstappen will continue his pursuit of his first win of the 2026 campaign.
