Max Verstappen took pole position in a thrilling Qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix which featured a record six red flags after several crashes, including a shunt for championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen snatched pole from Williams’ Carlos Sainz with his last flying lap following two red flags in Q3 alone for crashes from Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Piastri will start ninth but his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris was unable to fully capitalise as he could only qualify seventh with a scruffy lap where he glanced the wall.
It means the McLaren duo, who are split by 31 points in the Drivers’ Championship, will need to come through the field in what’s set up to be a spectacular 51 laps around Baku on Sunday when the lights go out at 12pm (build-up from 10.30am), live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.
Liam Lawson qualified a career-best third for Racing Bulls and Kimi Antonelli in fourth, ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
Yuki Tsunoda enjoyed his best qualifying as a Red Bull driver in sixth, with Isack Hadjar in eighth, splitting title protagonists Norris and Piastri.
Ferrari showed plenty of promise on Friday but Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in Q2 in 12th and Leclerc crashed early in Q3, so will start 10th.
Alex Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman ALL bring out the red flag in Qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Williams’ Alex Albon caused the first red flag of a qualifying that lasted two hours when he hit the wall at Turn 1, then Nico Hulkenberg damaged his Sauber and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto crashed out in Q1 too, before Haas’ Oliver Bearman slapped the barriers at Turn 2 in Q2.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Azerbaijan GP schedule
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place around the Baku City Circuit
Sunday September 21
7.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12pm: THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP reaction
3pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with lights out on Sunday at 12pm and build-up from 10.30am, live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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