Is Russell Back in the Title Fight? | 2026 Azerbaijan GP Review

George Russell's first Grand Slam cuts Antonelli's lead to 66 points in Baku, but is he really back in the title fight? Plus the last-lap call that put spectacle over safety, and a Malaysian GP preview.

In this episode, Tom and Chris review a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Russell's perfect weekend, Antonelli's costly qualifying mistake, the theory behind Bottas's crash, the missing VSC on the final lap, Hadjar's return and Red Bull's first double podium since China 2024, and Colapinto's collision with Gasly and Norris. Then it's on to the Malaysian GP return, the stats from the last time F1 raced there, and our predictions.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:17 Welcome & Baku recap
1:27 Russell's first Grand Slam
5:06 Antonelli's costly qualifying mistake
8:03 Why did Bottas crash? The regen theory
11:31 No VSC on the last lap: spectacle over safety?
15:47 Should the stewards explain their decisions?
17:08 Red Bull double podium & Hadjar's return
21:57 Ferrari fade, McLaren's nightmare
24:07 Colapinto takes out Gasly & Norris
30:03 Lindblad vs Lawson: "pretty sick"
32:25 Haas, Williams & Audi
35:09 Driver & move of the day
37:44 Final award & Pirelli's tyre problem
41:29 Prediction league & fantasy results
44:25 Malaysian GP preview
49:46 Our Malaysian GP predictions
55:21 Inbox: Lindblad & Red Bull's junior programme
58:46 Wrap-up

🏁 Malaysian GP predictions are open now. Get yours in before Q1 at https://backofthegrid.com, plus links to our F1 Fantasy and Grid Rival leagues.
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Back of the Grid is a weekly F1 podcast by fans, for fans, hosted by Tom King and Chris Evans.

See you next week for the Malaysian GP review!

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