Azerbaijan Grand Prix predictions: Norris to shine in street-circuit success
Lando Norris won on street circuits in Australia and Monaco this season
George Russell was on the podium in Azerbaijan last year
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McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have seven rounds left to decide which of them secures a first F1 world drivers' championship success this season, but they could combine to clinch the constructors' title for McLaren at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Finishing first and second or first and third would be enough for the British outfit to retain their team crown as they lead Ferrari by a massive 337 points after winning 12 of this season's 16 races.
That haul does not include the most recent event, though, as world champion Max Verstappen enjoyed a revival at Monza to pick up his third win of the year for Red Bull.
Norris gained three points on world championship leader Piastri by finishing second in Italy, but he still trails his Australian team-mate by 31 points following his unfortunate engine failure in the Netherlands.
Six different drivers have won the seven runnings of the Baku race, but only three of them remain in the sport.
Lewis Hamilton won the 2018 race, while Verstappen's only success came in 2022 and Piastri won there last season.
The latest Azerbaijan Grand Prix odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
The stats
Oscar Piastri has seven wins this season, but has triumphed in only two of the last seven races.
Piastri has finished on the podium in 14 of the 16 races this season and he and Norris have finished on the podium together 12 times this season.
Four different drivers have been on pole at the last four races.
Lewis Hamilton has finished in the points at 12 of the last 14 races
Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson and Kimi Antonelli have the most retirements this season with four each
The latest Azerbaijan Grand Prix odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Predictions
Norris probably needs team-mate Piastri to suffer a similar hammer blow to the one he had to deal with when his engine failed in the Netherlands in order to win the world title this season, but he can chip away a few more points from the Australian's lead by winning in Baku.
Piastri triumphed in Azerbaijan last season in what was only the second win of his F1 career, but his task was made easier when Norris was knocked out of qualifying in Q1 after coming up to yellow flags on his flying lap.
The British driver started 15th and managed to work his way up to fourth at the finish, as well as setting the fastest lap, while Piastri cruised home 10 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Charles Leclerc after qualifying second.
McLaren have done well at the street circuits so far this season, with Norris winning in Australia and Monaco, while Piastri took the chequered flag in Miami.
Norris has finished first or second in the last nine races that he has completed and can edge nearer to his title rival with a sixth win of the year.
Verstappen made a huge leap forward in terms of pace at Monza after changes to his car's floor and general set-up, but this venue has not been one of his favourites.
His Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez won twice in Baku, but Verstappen really struggled at the track last season, finishing more than a minute behind in fifth after qualifying in sixth.
For a second bet on the race, take George Russell of Mercedes to repeat his Baku podium of last season.
His car is inconsistent but can sometimes come to life on street circuits, such as when he won in Las Vegas last year and in Montreal this season.
Russell qualified fifth and finished third in this event last year and his team are hopeful of one of their better showings.
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