Thread the Needle, Steal the Crown: Baku’s Streetfight

Thread the Needle, Steal the Crown: Baku’s Streetfight

Baku doesn’t babysit. After Monza, McLaren still runs the season—Piastri leading, Norris chasing—while Verstappen’s Red Bull looks built for the two-kilometer blast to the line. Ferrari hunt stability (and a podium) as Mercedes play consistency with Russell and rehab with rookie Antonelli. Williams are the midfield’s ambush artists; Aston, Racing Bulls, Sauber, and Haas circle for scraps that can flip the standings. The track is slipstream soup, brakes-on-a-knife-edge, and Safety Cars on speed dial—strategy roulette decides who cashes in. Smart money? Red Bull’s top-end bite vs. McLaren’s all-rounder: Verstappen to pounce, Norris to harry, Piastri to bank big points if the walls don’t collect anyone first.



September 18, 2025 — CMC Motorsports