Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole position while Oscar Piastri crashed on the opening lap and had his Formula One lead over McLaren teammate Lando Norris slashed to 25 points.
McLaren had hoped to secure their 10th Formula One constructors' title, and second in a row, on Sunday with a record seven rounds remaining but must now wait until Singapore on October 5.
George Russell finished second for Mercedes, who moved up to second place and 333 points behind McLaren with 346 still to be won, and Carlos Sainz third for Williams's first podium finish of the season.
Norris started and finished seventh, with his chances of scoring more points scuppered by a slow pitstop for the second successive race.
VERSTAPPEN WINS SECOND RACE IN A ROW
The win was Verstappen's second in a row and he was absolutely dominant, leading from pole to flag and setting the fastest lap for a "Grand Slam" that revived his slim title hopes with the reigning champion now 69 points behind Piastri.
"I think this weekend has been incredible for us," said Verstappen after his 67th career win and fourth of the season. "For us to win here again is just fantastic.
"We had clean air all the time and you could then look after your tyres. And yeah, it was pretty straightforward."
Russell, recovering from sickness, was happy to see a rough weekend finish strongly while Sainz was the happiest man on the podium.
"I cannot describe how happy I am and how good this feels. It tastes even better than my first ever podium," said the four-times race winner with Ferrari.
The big story came on the opening lap when Piastri, who crashed in qualifying and started ninth, jumped the start and went to the back of the field before ploughing into the wall at turn five.
The crash ended the Australian's record of being the only driver to score in every race this season and also put the brakes on a run of 34 races in the points.
Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli was fourth for Mercedes, redeeming himself after a poor home race weekend at Monza, with New Zealander Liam Lawson enjoying a career-high fifth for Racing Bulls.
Yuki Tsunoda was sixth for Red Bull with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc following Norris home in eighth and ninth.
French rookie Isack Hadjar made it a double points finish for Racing Bulls in 10th.
McLaren had hoped to secure their 10th Formula One constructors' title, and second in a row, on Sunday with a record seven rounds remaining but must now wait until Singapore on October 5.
George Russell finished second for Mercedes, who moved up to second place and 333 points behind McLaren with 346 still to be won, and Carlos Sainz third for Williams's first podium finish of the season.
Norris started and finished seventh, with his chances of scoring more points scuppered by a slow pitstop for the second successive race.
VERSTAPPEN WINS SECOND RACE IN A ROW
The win was Verstappen's second in a row and he was absolutely dominant, leading from pole to flag and setting the fastest lap for a "Grand Slam" that revived his slim title hopes with the reigning champion now 69 points behind Piastri.
"I think this weekend has been incredible for us," said Verstappen after his 67th career win and fourth of the season. "For us to win here again is just fantastic.
"We had clean air all the time and you could then look after your tyres. And yeah, it was pretty straightforward."
Russell, recovering from sickness, was happy to see a rough weekend finish strongly while Sainz was the happiest man on the podium.
"I cannot describe how happy I am and how good this feels. It tastes even better than my first ever podium," said the four-times race winner with Ferrari.
The big story came on the opening lap when Piastri, who crashed in qualifying and started ninth, jumped the start and went to the back of the field before ploughing into the wall at turn five.
The crash ended the Australian's record of being the only driver to score in every race this season and also put the brakes on a run of 34 races in the points.
Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli was fourth for Mercedes, redeeming himself after a poor home race weekend at Monza, with New Zealander Liam Lawson enjoying a career-high fifth for Racing Bulls.
Yuki Tsunoda was sixth for Red Bull with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc following Norris home in eighth and ninth.
French rookie Isack Hadjar made it a double points finish for Racing Bulls in 10th.
You may also like
Kolkata rain havoc: Mayor appeals to people to stay home after 7 electrocution deaths
Bengaluru woman stabbed 11 times by husband in front of 12-year-old daughter at bus stand
"Youth unemployment directly related to vote theft," claims Rahul Gandhi
India fined for slow over-rate after defeat to Australia in third ODI
Man Utd star encouraged to storm off in dramatic training move to make his point