Baku qualifying chaos: Piastri crash, Hamilton frustration, Ocon DSQ, Sainz shines, Lawson stars, Verstappen tyre woes
A record-setting six red flags turned Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying into a two-hour saga on the streets of Baku, producing high drama and a grid with storylines up and down the order.
Piastri takes blame after Q3 crash
Oscar Piastri admitted fault after going deep into Turn 3 and hitting the barrier in Q3, inflicting significant damage and triggering one of the multiple stoppages that defined the session.
Hamilton cites strategy miscue
Lewis Hamilton described his qualifying result as “a bit of a shock,” pointing to an execution issue with Ferrari’s tyre strategy despite feeling encouraged by Friday pace.
Ocon disqualified from qualifying
Esteban Ocon was disqualified after post-session FIA checks found the rear-wing main plane deflected more than the 0.5mm limit under Article 3.15.17 of the technical regulations.
Verstappen runs out of tyres
Max Verstappen revealed he effectively ran out of tyres amid the stop-start chaos, with repeated red flags compromising rubber allocation at a critical juncture.
Sainz delivers under pressure
Carlos Sainz surged to a stunning P2 on the grid after briefly holding provisional pole with 3:41 remaining in Q3, capitalizing as weather threatened and interruptions continued.
Lawson’s career-best qualifying
Liam Lawson produced a standout performance to line up third, admitting he had to “fight his brain” to keep committing through the high-stakes session.
The big picture
With six red flags and momentum constantly broken, Baku again lived up to its unpredictable reputation. Tire usage, track evolution, and nerves of steel proved decisive in shaping a grid that promises a compelling grand prix.
