Max Verstappen on pole as Oscar Piastri crashes in stop-start Baku qualifying
The four-time world champion once again set a blazing lap when it counts to take back-to-back pole positions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the first time in his career and went back-to-back in a stop-start qualifying session that was impacted by six red flags.
The four-time world champion, who won from pole position last time out at the Italian GP, will now be seeking to secure consecutive victories for the first time this season.
"I’m very happy with how the weekend has gone so far," said Verstappen.
"From FP1, we were not too bad and we just kept on improving a tiny amount, and then we were there in qualifying, which is of course when it matters.”
Championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed during Q3, leaving him on the back foot in his fight with teammate Lando Norris, who also struggled for pace and will line up from P7 on Sunday, ahead of Piastri in P9.
The interrupted session led to some shock results, with Carlos Sainz setting an early lap in Q3 and finishing the day second on the timing sheets for Williams, ahead of Liam Lawson who qualified third in an impressive showing for the Racing Bulls.
With light rain and unpredictable winds, it was the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc on an early fast lap in Q1, following on the quick form of the Scuderia so far this weekend.
That was soon bested by Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, with a fast lap for Oscar Piastri abandoned in the first red flag as Alex Albon hit the wall a turn one.
When the session resumed, it was Nico Hulkenberg who was next into the barriers, before both Alpines later ran off at turn four in separate incidents.
Q1 ended with George Russell, Leclerc, and then Norris all trading the top spot, and left Franco Colapinto, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, and Alex Albon all eliminated.
The incidents continued in Q2, with Isack Hadjar briefly into the run-off area before Ollie Bearman hit the wall at turn two.
With times beginning to drop in an extended period of green flag running, there was a shock as Lewis Hamilton was eliminated despite Ferrari's pace so far this weekend.
He was joined by Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto, Lance Stroll, and Ollie Bearman in exiting after Q2.
As the rain became slightly heavier and the session already delayed after multiple red flags, there was increased pressure on drivers to set an early lap in Q3, with George Russell running off as Carlos Sainz topped the timesheets.
Oscar Piastri was then on a flying lap which he was forced to abandon when Leclerc hit the wall at turn 15, causing another delay before Piastri too hit the barrier at turn three.
With the remaining drivers left with just one attempt, it was Verstappen who once again impressed the paddock as he found almost half a second on Sainz, who could otherwise not be beaten and secured a front-row position for Sunday.
Verstappen will line up on pole for a highly anticipated Azerbaijan Grand Prix at 9.00pm on Sunday (AEST).
