09/25/2026 09:00 PM
George Russell will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from a dominant
pole position as Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli will only be
16th on the grid. Russell has a prime opportunity to eat into
Antonelli's 81-point lead in the standings following the Italian
clipping the Turn 1 entry wall and sustaining damage during Q1.
Behind Russell, Charles Leclerc will be second for Ferrari ahead of
McLaren's Oscar Piastri as Lando Norris is fifth. On his return to
Red Bull, Isack Hadjar was fourth, with Max Verstappen down in
eighth, having not set a final lap due to yellow flags for Norris
going off. Lewis Hamilton is sixth. Elsewhere, the two Aston
Martin drivers have taken multiple new engine components,
triggering back-of-grid penalties, with Fernando Alonso actually
out-qualifying both Cadillacs on the road, but he loses his 19th
place for 22nd and last. Further grid penalties were then handed
out for Carlos Sainz (five places) and Sergio Perez (three places)
for their respective yellow flag and impeding infringements, with
Sainz's coming after having secured Williams' first Q3 slot of the
season with ninth on the road. NOTE: Grid remains provisional until
officially confirmed by the FIA. Full starting grid for 2026 F1
Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku
