P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen claimed Azerbaijan Grand Prix pole after a chaotic qualifying session in which SIX red flags were thrown.
Max Verstappen will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on pole for the first time, as McLaren faced difficulties in Q3 resulting in red flags. Charles Leclerc and championship leader Oscar Piastri both crashed in Q3, allowing Carlos Sainz of Williams to briefly hold provisional pole. However, Verstappen’s swift performance with new soft tires secured him pole position, marking Williams’ best qualifying result since 2021. Liam Lawson achieved a career-best third place for Racing Bulls, while Lando Norris finished seventh after a major setback for Piastri. Lewis Hamilton qualified 12th for Ferrari, while Verstappen celebrated his fifth pole position of the season, marking his first pole in Baku.
During Q3, Carlos Sainz initially led on mediums before rain and Piastri’s crash reshuffled the standings. Ultimately, Norris settled for seventh place as Verstappen clinched pole with a time of 1:41.117. Kimi Antonelli finished fourth for Mercedes, followed by George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda, with Isack Hadjar in eighth place. In Q2, Lewis Hamilton’s elimination in 12th place was a surprise after Ferrari’s Leclerc caused disruptions on track. In a season where Hamilton has faced Q2 eliminations five times, he was joined by Alonso in 11th, Lance Stroll, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Oliver Bearman, who triggered a red flag. Verstappen led Q2 ahead of Norris and Piastri, setting the stage for an exciting Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
(Source: © XPBimages)
