Max Verstappen Claims Pole at Azerbaijan GP Amid Crashes

Max Verstappen claimed pole position in a dramatic qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, edging out Carlos Sainz in a thrilling finish that was shaped by numerous crashes, including a significant incident involving championship contender Oscar Piastri.

In a rollercoaster of a qualifying session, Verstappen showcased his exceptional skill, snatching pole from Sainz on his final flying lap. The session was marked by a staggering six red flags, a testament to the rough and unforgiving nature of the Baku street circuit. Frequents crashes from drivers such as Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc added to the suspense and chaos that unfolded throughout the event.

As the qualifying progressed, Piastri faced a tough outcome, ultimately qualifying in ninth place. His McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, fared slightly better by securing the seventh spot, yet both drivers will need to navigate through a tightly packed field during the upcoming race, with just 31 points separating them in the Drivers’ Championship standings. The 51 laps of the Baku circuit promise to deliver intense on-track action as they strive to better their positions.

Liam Lawson made headlines by qualifying a career-best third for Racing Bulls, signaling his continued rise in the sport. Kimi Antonelli also impressed, grabbing the fourth position, while George Russell placed fifth for Mercedes, adding to the competitive nature of the grid. Yuki Tsunoda had a solid performance, qualifying sixth, while Isack Hadjar secured the eighth spot, creating a tight contest among the leading contenders.

Ferrari, once hopeful for a dominant performance following promising practice sessions, faced disappointment. Lewis Hamilton struggled yet again, managing only 12th place after being eliminated in Q2, extending his streak of disappointing finishes this season. Meanwhile, Leclerc’s crash early in Q3 compounded his team’s misfortunes, relegating him to start from 10th.

Hamilton, who has yet to see the podium this year, was optimistic about his chances for pole but found himself grappling with the lack of pace from both Ferrari drivers in the challenging, gusty conditions. The session kicked off with a bang as Williams’ Alex Albon caused the first red flag when he hit the wall at Turn 1. This was followed by Nico Hulkenberg damaging his Sauber and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto crashing out in Q1, contributing to the session’s tumultuous nature. Haas’ Oliver Bearman also added to the incident tally by hitting barriers at Turn 2 during Q2.

Complicating matters further, Esteban Ocon, who initially qualified 18th, was disqualified after failing a rear wing deflection test, highlighting the razor-thin margins between compliance and disqualification in Formula 1.

The Azerbaijan circuit is notorious for its tight walls and demanding layout, which consistently tests drivers’ skills and bravery. The qualifying session had already experienced four red flags before Q3, and Hamilton’s unexpected failure to make it to the final qualifying session underlined how difficult it was to get the tires into the optimal temperature window amidst challenging conditions.

During the initial runs, Russell found himself running off track at Turn 4, which triggered yellow flags that impacted Norris’s following lap, prompting him to abandon his efforts. Shortly after, Leclerc’s incident at Turn 15 limited the number of drivers able to complete their laps to three—Sainz, Lawson, and Hadjar—who managed to set times in that sequence.

As light rain began to drizzle while the marshals worked to clear Leclerc’s car, Sainz was poised for a potential pole position. However, the track remained mostly dry when drivers returned for their second Q3 laps. Verstappen appeared to be trailing Sainz’s quicker times after the middle sector, while Norris had set a rapid first sector. Just as the session reached a critical point, Piastri crashed his McLaren at Turn 3, leading to the sixth red flag of the qualifying session, a record-breaking occurrence that prevented any further drivers from posting laps.

Piastri reflected on his unfortunate crash, stating, “I think I just braked a little bit late. Disappointing obviously, I felt like the car was in a good place, but a disappointing way to end,” during his interview with Sky Sports F1.

With three minutes still remaining on the clock, the pressure shifted entirely to Norris, now presented with the opportunity to exploit his teammate’s incident. Throughout his lap, Norris struggled visibly, losing substantial time compared to what would become Verstappen’s pole lap. He inadvertently brushed the barriers at Turn 15 as he battled with his McLaren, ultimately trailing to settle for a seventh-place finish.

On the other hand, Verstappen executed a stellar final lap, illustrating exactly why he is a four-time world champion as he surged ahead to claim pole position by nearly half a second over Sainz.

Reflecting on the qualifying session, Verstappen noted the unique challenges it posed: “It was a long qualifying with so many red flags, making it very difficult to string together a good lap. Most of the time, my tires weren’t ready, or a red flag disrupted the flow,” he explained. With 94 points separating him from the championship leader Piastri, Verstappen remained focused on the task ahead despite the challenges.

“Especially Q3, with a bit of rain in the air, it was a tough session. On my final lap, I just had to go for it. I wasn’t even on the best tires due to all the red flags; we basically ran out of options,” he added.

Looking to the future, Hadjar is expected to join Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026, while Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad is also in the running to join the Racing Bulls. The competition for the final seat in Red Bull’s driver lineup has heated up, with Tsunoda and Lawson vying for their positions.

Although Tsunoda qualified sixth, Lawson’s impressive performance in third place could undoubtedly attract the attention of Red Bull’s Helmut Marko, particularly if he can maintain his position within the top ranks during the race on Sunday.

“Honestly, I can’t even remember what happened; it was so busy. While I anticipated a hectic session, I didn’t expect it to unfold quite like that. The car felt good throughout the weekend, and when it needed to shine during qualifying, it delivered, so an immense thanks to the team; their efforts have been remarkable,” Lawson expressed following the intense qualifying session, while also reiterating that the upcoming race is what truly matters.

Sainz, too, was a standout performer in qualifying after a trying season with Williams, where he has not scored points since the Canadian Grand Prix in June and currently sits 18th in the Drivers’ Championship. The former Ferrari driver demonstrated his class by securing a front-row position alongside Verstappen, setting his sights on a podium finish.

“I’m very happy with our performance today. We absolutely nailed the qualifying,” Sainz stated enthusiastically. “We were consistently on the right tires at the right moments and managing to string together some solid laps. Of course, we knew that once a top car got their act together, we would likely be a few tenths behind as always, but we were only chasing Max and I’m not surprised by his performance.”

As the excitement builds for the race on Sunday, fans are left eagerly anticipating the unfolding drama. With the combination of high stakes and the unpredictability of street racing, every lap is set to be a crucial opportunity for drivers to excel and perhaps even upend the expectations set forth by this exhilarating qualifying session.

Azerbaijan GP Qualifying Timesheet

Driver	Team	Time
1) Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1:41.117
2) Carlos Sainz	Williams	+0.478
3) Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+0.590
4) Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.600
5) George Russell	Mercedes	+0.953
6) Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull	+1.026
7) Lando Norris	McLaren	+1.122
8) Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	+1.255
9) Oscar Piastri	McLaren	No time
10) Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	No time
Knocked out in Q2
11) Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:41.857
12) Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	1:42.183
13) Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber	1:42.277
14) Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1:43.061
15) Oliver Bearman	Haas	No time
Knocked out in Q1
16) Franco Colapinto	Alpine	1:42.779
17) Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	1:42.916
18) Esteban Ocon*	Haas	1:43.004
19) Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:43.139
20) Alex Albon	Williams	1:43.778