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Bottas holds off Hamilton to move into F1 title lead

Valtteri Bottas has moved into the lead in the Formula One world championship
Valtteri Bottas has moved into the lead in the Formula One world championship

Valtteri Bottas held off Lewis Hamilton to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and take the lead of the Formula One world championship.

Bottas started from pole position and kept Hamilton at bay as the Mercedes duo went wheel-to-wheel through the opening three bends.

Hamilton attempted a late charge for victory, but Bottas had enough in his pocket to take the chequered flag and move one point clear in the title standings. 

Sebastian Vettel finished third for Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc started eighth after he crashed out of qualifying. The Ferrari junior, on a different strategy to the front runners, fought his way back through the field following a fast start and actually led a large chunk of the race.

But on ageing rubber he began to slow and, by the time he was hauled in for a change of tyres, he had fallen to sixth.

The young Monegasque claimed one position back to take fifth, but he will depart Baku wondering what might have been had it not been for his qualifying blunder. Red Bull's Max Verstappen crossed the line in fourth. 

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