(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 15 -Oscar Piastri in a McLaren won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, 17th round of the Formula One World Championship, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who also started from pole position, came second to further close the gap on three-time and reigning world champ Max Verstappen, who came fifth.
Piastri's teammate Lando Norris finished fourth to cut the Red Bull ace's lead to 59 points with seven races and three sprints to go.
Leclerc is a further 19 points behind Norris.
"My compliments to Piastri, he deserved the win," said Monégasque Leclerc, who has secured the last four poles.
"I realised it was going to be difficult as soon as we mounted hard tyres. We were more competitive with the mediums and as soon as we changed the mix the race became harder. It was very difficult, we started to suffer. I really had to struggle to keep my tyres alive right till the end, when I started brushing the walls".
He went on: "When Oscar overtook me I tried to keep calm. Sadly I didn't defend myself as I would have wanted, but as I said I was suffering with the tyres and if others are better than you then they deserve to win".(ANSA).