Max Verstappen branded 'shark' after sniffing George Russell 'blood in the water'

Max Verstappen was like a shark sniffing George Russell's blood in the water during the dying moments of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, according to Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord.

Russell was strolling to a comfortable victory at the Baku City Circuit, but two safety car disruptions erased his advantage.

When the racing resumed in anger, the Briton could not shake off Verstappen, who took the chequered flag just under two tenths of a second behind Russell.

"It was all unfolding exactly as we'd hoped in our most optimistic strategy plan," Lord reflected to Sky Sports F1.

"George was just able to break away at the front, build the gap, was completely in control, and then after that restart, suddenly, Max got a sniff.

"It's like a shark with blood in the water, and suddenly there he is, and George could gain half a second every time in the middle sector. Then, like a big bungee cord, it just pulled Max back in the slipstream.

"So, high, high pressure for George. One mistake, and that would have been the win gone, and he didn't make any at all."

Mercedes 'blood pressure rocketed'

To add further stress to the high-stakes scenario, Valtteri Bottas crashing at Turn 15 left one final hurdle for Russell, who also lost his boost, to overcome.

It left the Mercedes pit wall reeling, despite the 28-year-old successfully claiming his eighth grand prix victory.

"And even on the last lap, our blood pressure rocketed when we saw Valtteri in the wall and a double yellow," Lord added.

"George said he'd lost boost, and it looked like it might be lost at the very last, but fortunately, it wasn't. So, two tenths, but two tenths was enough."