Race 17 of 24 brought high stakes to the streets of Baku as the Formula 1 grid battled it out in the always unpredictable Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The weekend was set to showcase intense competition, with both Dutch rookies Kruimel and The Captain eager to make their mark. However, what transpired on race day was a series of misfortunes for the duo, paving the way for a stunning victory by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Qualifying: Dutch Duo Struggles, Kruimel Shines Late
In a highly competitive qualifying session, both rookies initially struggled to find the pace. Kruimel, who had been dominant in recent rounds, managed to snatch P3 in the dying moments, but for the first time in five races, he failed to secure a front-row start. The Captain, meanwhile, settled for P5, visibly displeased with his performance and expressing concerns about his prospects for the race. Verstappen clinched pole position, while Leclerc locked out the front row.
Race Start: Kruimel Takes the Lead, The Captain Fights Back
As the lights went out, most of the field started on softs, but The Captain made a bold move by opting for mediums. It paid off initially, as he gained a position on Sainz into Turn 1. However, his pace on the harder compound couldn’t keep up, and he quickly lost ground, even dropping behind Alonso. Meanwhile, Kruimel wasted no time in passing Verstappen for P2, and soon, with the aid of DRS, he surged past Leclerc to take the lead.
Disaster soon struck The Captain, though. Contact with Alonso in Turn 1 resulted in front wing damage, a precursor to a disastrous day. After clipping the wall, a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was deployed, allowing him to pit for a new wing and switch to hard tires. The VSC evolved into a full Safety Car, nullifying his strategic advantage but allowing him to rejoin in P5.
Mid-Race Chaos: Kruimel’s Charge and The Captain’s Struggles
At the restart, Kruimel held firm at the front but lost out to Leclerc as they approached Turn 3. The Captain, determined to make up for lost time, capitalized on the shuffle to pass Hamilton for P4. However, his inability to match the pace of the front three became evident as Verstappen caught and passed him in short order.
As the race progressed, The Captain’s misfortunes worsened. A lock-up into Turn 1 saw him run wide, once again damaging his front wing. To make matters worse, contact with Hamilton led to further damage, forcing The Captain to pit for yet another new front wing. He rejoined in P18, effectively ending any hopes of points.
Kruimel, leading the race again appeared to be in control. But as he navigated the tight castle section, a rare mistake saw him lock up and crash into the barriers, breaking his suspension and bringing out the red flag. For Kruimel, the driver who had dominated much of the season, his race ended in heartbreak.
Restart Drama: The Captain’s Final Blow
The final restart offered a glimmer of hope for The Captain, now on mediums while the rest of the field was on softs. Starting P13, he got a strong launch but collided with Gasly, damaging his front wing for the third time. His day went from bad to worse when his own teammate Albon attempted a risky overtake, resulting in catastrophic suspension damage for The Captain, ending his race with a DNF.
Sainz Takes Victory as Dutch Duo Walk Away Empty-Handed
In a race filled with drama, it was Carlos Sainz who emerged victorious, claiming his first win of the season. Verstappen finished second, closing the gap to Kruimel in the championship, while Lando Norris took the final podium spot in his McLaren.
Kruimel’s once comfortable 89-point championship lead shrank to 71 points, while The Captain clung to P4 in the standings. Williams left Azerbaijan without points, but they still hold fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of Mercedes.
Post-Race Reactions: The Captain Furious, Kruimel Gutted
The Captain didn’t mince words after the race, slamming his teammate Albon for what he described as a “kamikaze” move that ended his race.
“This whole weekend was just crap. We couldn’t get the car right, especially in sector 2. I messed up with all the damage, but Alex… what he did was just unheard of. He’s my teammate, for crying out loud. I would’ve let him pass, but not like that. I can’t even describe how pissed I am. We’re going to have a serious talk after this, but honestly, I want to forget this weekend ever happened. What a s***show.”
Kruimel was similarly distraught after what had looked like another assured victory slipped away: “I had the race under control until that moment. It’s a painful mistake, but it happens. I’ll come back stronger.”
Championship Outlook
Despite the setbacks, Kruimel remains the championship leader, but with Verstappen closing in, the fight is far from over. For The Captain, the Azerbaijan GP will be a race to forget, but his flashes of brilliance throughout the season suggest he has the potential to bounce back stronger.
With seven races remaining, the title fight is heating up, and while Kruimel remains the favorite, anything can happen in the world of Formula 1—especially with the unpredictable nature of the rookie rivalry between Kruimel and The Captain.
