Kevin Magnussen takes dramatic Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory after late Safety Car

Magnussen fends off Sergio Perez in thrilling final laps

Hulkenberg impresses on F1 return as Gasly suffers late heartbreak

Kevin Magnussen produced a stunning drive to claim a dramatic victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, holding off Sergio Perez in a thrilling final few laps following a late Safety Car.

The Haas driver had started from 10th on the grid but made a brilliant start to move up to fifth by the end of the opening lap. He then made further progress during the first round of pit stops, before taking the lead for the first time on lap 12 when the Safety Car was deployed due to a crash involving Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll.

Magnussen was able to maintain his lead at the restart, but he came under intense pressure from Perez in the closing stages. The Red Bull driver closed the gap to just a few tenths of a second, but Magnussen was able to hold on for a famous victory.

It was Magnussen's first Grand Prix win since the 2018 Russian Grand Prix, and it marked Haas's first victory in Formula 1. The result also moved Magnussen up to seventh in the drivers' championship standings.

Perez had to settle for second place, but he will take solace from the fact that he extended his lead in the championship standings. The Mexican driver now has a 21-point lead over Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth in Baku.

Nico Hulkenberg made an impressive return to Formula 1, finishing eighth for Aston Martin. The German driver had been out of the sport for three years, but he showed no signs of rust as he battled his way through the field.

Pierre Gasly was left to rue a late Safety Car, which cost him a chance of victory. The AlphaTauri driver had been leading the race for much of the afternoon, but he was forced to pit for new tires under the Safety Car, which dropped him down to fifth.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a thrilling and unpredictable race, and it produced a surprise winner in Magnussen. The Haas driver will now be hoping to build on his victory in the remaining races of the season.