Formula 1: Azerbaijan GP 2023 Sprint Race Highlights: Sergio Perez wins, Leclerc, Verstappen in top three

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Ferrari's Charles Leclerc made it two pole positions in as many days after topping Formula 1's first-ever Sprint Shootout at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Leclerc took pole for the Azerbaijan GP 2023 Sprint Race despite crashing out on his final flying lap.

Leclerc, who also took the pole in Friday's qualifying, outpaced both Red Bulls, with Sergio Perez beating teammate Max Verstappen for second place. Max beat Perez in qualifying. Mercedes driver George Russell came fourth, while Lewis Hamilton finished sixth behind Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was eighth after problems with his DRS.

The Formula 1 2023 season is all set to once again make its way into the middle east, as it is time for the streets of Baku to get lit up by the swift and rapid cars racing in Azerbaijan GP 2023 through the tight and tricky tracks of the Baku City Circuit.

The Azerbaijan GP 2023, will mark a historic and revolutionary event in F1, as this will be the very first time, that the new weekend format, will be implemented. Courtesy of renewed plans for the weekend, the following will be the proceedings for the Azerbaijan GP.

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On Friday morning, a solitary practice session will take place, after which we will have the qualifying session for the main race on Sunday. 

The next day on Saturday, a one-lap qualifying for the sprint race will take place in the morning, which will be followed by the 21-lap sprint race. On Sunday, the old-fashioned race will take place.

Driver’s championship

Max Verstappen is currently leading the world Championship race, with a total of 69 points, as his fellow Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez tails him with just 15 points adrift. Veterans Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton come next, with 45 and 38 points respectively. 

After a long four-week rest, the drivers will once again be ready, to take it to the tracks in the demanding roads of Baku, where even the slightest mistakes are punished quickly and severely.