Russell wins in Baku as Horner-Ferrari talk becomes a distraction
George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after holding off Max Verstappen in Baku. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fifth, which leaves his Mercedes team-mate Russell 66 points behind at the top of the standings. BBC Sport
Isack Hadjar finished third for Red Bull on his return after missing three races with a broken wrist. It was Russell's third victory of the 2026 season. Formula1.com Baku has been strong ground for Red Bull in the past, with Verstappen winning there in 2022 and 2025 and Sergio Perez winning in 2021 and 2023, all with the team. Reuters
The result landed just as BBC Sport correspondent Andrew Benson faced a familiar paddock question in his weekly Formula 1 Q&A, published on 29 September 2026. Reader Ben asked whether former Red Bull boss Christian Horner wants the Ferrari team principal job and whether he has a shot at it. The team principal is the person who runs the team day to day.
Horner had discussed Ferrari in an interview with The Times while promoting his new book. He described Ferrari as the biggest brand in Formula 1, calling it the dream and arguably the sleeping giant of the sport.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur did not welcome the talk. Speaking after the race in Baku, he said Horner is "looking for a job everywhere" and that the speculation meant Ferrari were not working in "perfect serenity". Vasseur had already said Horner was proving a distraction for Ferrari. BBC Sport
Horner's record explains why his name keeps coming up. In his two-decade tenure at Red Bull, the team won eight drivers' titles, six constructors' championships, the prize awarded to the best team over a season, and 124 grands prix. Red Bull dismissed allegations against him after two internal investigations led by external lawyers, and he has since been officially released by Red Bull Racing with a reported pay-off worth 60 million euros (£52 million).
What makes this stand out is the clash of needs. Ferrari is the oldest and most famous team in Formula 1, so any hint of change at the top creates noise. Vasseur wants calm to get on with racing. Horner needs a next step.
