In a sensational qualifying round for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Max Verstappen secured pole position. The four-time world champion from Red Bull took full advantage of the conditions. The unprecedented chaos in the session was mainly caused by gusts of wind and rain in the final phase, resulting in a record number (six!) of red flags and a large number of crashes.
World Championship leader Oscar Piastri is the biggest loser with a hard crash in Q3 of the qualifying round.
Here is a quick overview of the qualifying round for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Q1: Red flags due to Albon, Hülkenberg, and Colapinto
The qualifying round in Baku starts under challenging conditions. The weather is cloudy, but it is mainly the strong and constantly changing gusts of wind that make it difficult for the twenty drivers. Max Verstappen records the second time (1.42,210) on mediums in the opening phase, behind Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc (1.41,982), when the red flag appears for the first time. Alex Albon hit the wall in turn 1 due to a strange miscalculation. An early (and unnecessary) end to the qualifying round for the Williams Brit.
After the restart, Lewis Hamilton (1.41,821) replaces his teammate Leclerc with the fastest time and in his wake, Oscar Piastri also moves out of the danger zone with the second time (1.41,839). However, he is lucky, because a fraction later the red flag appears again. This time Nico Hülkenberg has caused damage. He can continue Q1. Lando Norris restores the order (1.41,322) in the final minutes and takes the fastest time (1.41,322), 0.009 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. And then, in the dying seconds of Q1, the third red flag due to a hard crash by Franco Colapinto ‘under yellow’, who was probably distracted by teammate Pierre Gasly who had missed the turn just before him.
Q1 Dropouts: Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Ocon, Gasly, Albon.
Q2: Hamilton falls, Verstappen fast
The second part is just underway when the red flag waves again. Oliver Bearman has hit the wall and stops on the straight. With just over eleven minutes on the clock, the session resumes. Norris and Verstappen quickly set sharp times, but many others continue to struggle with the conditions. For example, Piastri touches the wall, and Hamilton and Leclerc also have a hard time. In fact, Hamilton surprisingly falls in Q2!
The fastest time is credited to Verstappen, clocking in at 1:41.255, just fractions ahead of Lando Norris and Piastri. Verstappen’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, manages to scrape into the top-10 at the last minute, which could prove strategically valuable for Red Bull (slipstreaming) in Q3.
Q2 Dropouts: Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Bortoleto, Stroll, Bearman.
Q3: Crashes for Leclerc and Championship Leader Piastri
Light rain begins to fall at the start of Q3, adding an extra layer of complexity to an already chaotic session. Max Verstappen stays in a bit longer and is the last to go out. He’s on his first fast lap when, predictably, the red flag is waved. Charles Leclerc has crashed hard in turn 15. Carlos Sainz (Williams) currently holds the fastest time (1:41.595), achieved under nearly dry conditions. Meanwhile, the rain intensifies, and Sainz is cautiously optimistic in the garage.
With just over seven minutes left on the clock, Q3 resumes and it’s already dry again. Max Verstappen is on a fast lap and on track for the fastest time, when just before crossing the line – for the sixth time – the red flag appears. This time due to a crash by none other than championship leader Piastri, who slams hard into the wall.
And it’s drizzling again! With just over three minutes left on the clock, the drivers head out again, each getting one chance at a final lap. And in the end, it’s Max Verstappen who stands out and secures pole position.
The start of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is on Sunday at 11:00 UTC.
