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George Russell takes pole position in Baku

News›Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026

George Russell takes pole position in Baku

f1oversteer.com+ 15 moreFri 25 Sep · 13:10 UTCupdated Sat 26 Sep · 09:48 UTCHave your say

Image via f1oversteer.com

The story so farNeutral summary generated from 21 sources

George Russell secured pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a remarkable lap time, finishing 0.837 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. The session saw championship leader Kimi Antonelli crash out in Q1, forcing him to start from 16th place.

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2026 season · round 16 next — Bahrain Grand Prix in MalaysiaSeason overview →

Andrea Kimi Antonelli302 2

George Russell236 3

Lewis Hamilton199

Teams 1MMercedes538 2FFerrari378 3MMcLaren306

Results Azerbaijan Grand Prix 1

George Russell 2MVMax Verstappen 3

Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

Sepang International CircuitRace Sun 07:00 UTC

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This season's grid · championship orderAll drivers →

Andrea Kimi AntonelliMercedes 2

George RussellMercedes 3

Lewis HamiltonFerrari 4

Lando NorrisMcLaren 5CLCharles LeclercFerrari

Team championship orderAll teams →

1MMercedes538 pts 2FFerrari378 pts 3MMcLaren306 pts 4RBRed Bull263 pts 5RTRB F1 Team83 pts 6ATAlpine F1 Team68 pts 7HTHaas F1 Team27 pts 8AAudi17 pts 9WWilliams12 pts 10AMAston Martin3 pts 11CTCadillac F1 Team0 pts

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First to report

George Russell scores Azerbaijan Grand Prix pole by 0.837s as Kimi Antonelli crashes in Q1Mercedes star George Russell has scored pole position for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed out during the first stage of ...

f1oversteer.comFri 25 Sep · 13:10 UTCRead their report →

George Russell storms to Azerbaijan GP pole after Kimi Antonelli crashGeorge Russell claimed a commanding F1 pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

CrashFri 25 Sep · 13:10 UTCRead →

Russell storms to Azerbaijan GP pole with huge 0.837s margin, Antonelli crashesThe biggest pole position margin of the F1 2026 season.

PlanetF1Fri 25 Sep · 13:12 UTCRead →

Russell dominates Baku qualifying for pole after Antonelli crashes in Q1 | 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying reportGeorge Russell took a dominant pole position in Baku after his team mate and championship rival Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed out in Q1.

RaceFansFri 25 Sep · 13:12 UTCRead →

F1 Azerbaijan GP: George Russell takes dominant pole as Kimi Antonelli crashes outMercedes driver George Russell has beaten Charles Leclerc to take a dominant pole at F1's Azerbaijan GP, while team-mate and title favourite Kimi Antonelli crashed out of Q1. At the 6km Baku City Circuit, Antonelli tagged the barriers on the inside of the Turn 1 left-hander during Q1, unable to limp back home in his Mercedes W17 with terminal front-left suspension damage. Antonelli had already ... Keep reading

Motorsport.comFri 25 Sep · 13:14 UTCRead →

F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell dominates to pole after Antonelli crashes out in qualifyingMercedes driver George Russell has beaten Charles Leclerc to take a dominant pole at Formula 1's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while team-mate and title favourite Kimi Antonelli is set for a comeback race from 16th after crashing in Q1. At the 6km Baku City Circuit, Antonelli tagged the barriers on the inside of the Turn 1 left-hander during Q1 and was unable to limp back home in his Mercedes W17 ... Keep reading

AutosportFri 25 Sep · 13:14 UTCRead →

Russell takes pole in Baku as Antonelli out after hitting wallGeorge Russell takes pole position for Mercedes at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as his team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashes out.

BBC SportFri 25 Sep · 13:26 UTCRead →

Azerbaijan GP: Russell takes crushing pole as Antonelli crashesGeorge Russell delivered a stunning display of speed to seize pole position for Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while...

F1iFri 25 Sep · 13:27 UTCRead →

Russell charges to Baku pole as Antonelli exits Qualifying earlyGeorge Russell soared around the streets of Baku to take pole position over Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.

Formula1.comFri 25 Sep · 13:29 UTCRead →

Russell claims Azerbaijan GP pole as Antonelli crashesGeorge Russell claimed a dominant pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashed in Q1 and will start 16th.

Sky Sports F1Fri 25 Sep · 13:29 UTCRead →

George Russell capitalises on Antonelli shunt with dominant F1 Baku poleExtending a perfect qualifying record for Mercedes power with a 15th pole of the season, George Russell finished comfortably clear of Charles Leclerc to receive the Pirelli Pole Position Award from Casey Stoner, while Kimi Antonelli suffered an early Q1 disaster.

Motorsport WeekFri 25 Sep · 13:35 UTCRead →

Kimi Antonelli hits wall as George Russell takes F1 Azerbaijan GP poleChampionship leader Antonelli crashes out in Q1 Mercedes teammate takes pole by 0.837 from Leclerc Kimi Antonelli was left ruing an uncharacteristic error in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix which eliminated the championship leader in the first session after he hit a wall in Baku. His Mercedes teammate George Russell claimed pole with a fine lap and will be in a strong position to make up ground in the title chase in Saturday’s race. Antonelli leads Russell by 81 points in the world championship and has won the last two races but sat disconsolately trackside after only 11 minutes of running on Friday in Baku, when he was a little too eager into the 90-degree left-handed turn one and clipped the barrier. Continue reading...

theguardian.comFri 25 Sep · 13:44 UTCRead →

George Russell ‘confident’ of reducing F1 title gap after Baku poleGeorge Russell is "confident" he can win the F1 Azerbaijan GP after taking a dominant pole position on the streets of Baku.

Motorsport WeekFri 25 Sep · 14:05 UTCRead →

Russell charges to pole as Antonelli suffers shock Q1 exit in Azerbaijan GP QualifyingGeorge Russell delivered a stunning lap around the Baku City Circuit to claim pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli suffered a dramatic Q1 exit after crashing into the barriers at Turn 1.

f1technical.netFri 25 Sep · 14:08 UTCRead →

Russell dominates in Baku to take fifth poleGeorge Russell stamped his authority around Baku and cruised to pole position for Saturday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

espn.comFri 25 Sep · 14:15 UTCRead →

Russell reacts to his ‘perfect lap’ in Baku QualifyingGeorge Russell posted a stunning lap to comprehensively beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Formula1.comFri 25 Sep · 14:31 UTCRead →

George Russell's "biggest threat" in Azerbaijan GP: Max Verstappen or Kimi Antonelli?Having qualified on pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, George Russell tipped Max Verstappen as his most immediate danger in the race – but joked about his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli's remarkable Monza comeback. Such a scenario could be on the cards again since Antonelli hit the wall on his second flying lap in Q1, damaging his front suspension and steering as well as the ... Keep reading

Motorsport.comFri 25 Sep · 14:52 UTCRead →

Azerbaijan GP Bet Builder after Russell claims poleWe have picked a four-leg Bet Builder for Baku, including podium finish and top-six selections.

Formula1.comFri 25 Sep · 17:55 UTCRead →

George Russell Storms To Dominant Pole In BakuGeorge Russell dominated today’s qualifying session in Baku, securing pole position with a time of 1:42.526 and finishing more than eight tenths clear of second-placed…f1chronicle.comFri 25 Sep · 20:40 UTCRead →

Oscar Piastri offers cunning George Russell idea in expected Baku brawlOscar Piastri will start third in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix - right behind pole-sitter George Russell.

RacingNews365Fri 25 Sep · 21:00 UTCRead →

Azerbaijan Grand Prix LIVE! George Russell starts on pole, title leader and teammate Kimi Antonelli in 16thGeorge Russell looks to cut Kimi Antonelli's championship lead as he looks to take his blistering pace in qualifying into Saturday's race.

espn.comSat 26 Sep · 10:02 UTCRead →

This story

In this story

GRGeorge RussellFollow IgnoreCLCharles LeclercFollow IgnoreMVMax VerstappenFollow IgnoreCPCarlos PaceFollow IgnoreAAAndrea Kimi AntonelliFollow IgnoreOPOscar PiastriFollow IgnoreFFerrariFollow IgnoreMMercedesFollow IgnoreBCBaku City CircuitFollow IgnoreAMAutodromo Nazionale di MonzaFollow Ignore

Related stories

Antonelli's Baku woes: 'Worst' weekend of seasonKimi Antonelli described the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as his 'worst' race weekend despite finishing fifth after starting from 16th on the grid. He gained 11 places during the race, but his teammate George Russell's victory reduced Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points with eight races remaining this season. Antonelli faced challenges throughout the weekend, including a hydraulic leak that disrupted his practice sessions. He acknowledged that he was not at his best during the race, opting for a conservative approach to avoid damage. Antonelli is looking to bounce back at the upcoming race in Sepang on October 4.

espn.comSat 26 Sep

'I was driving like my grandma' - Antonelli admits to lack of confidenceKimi Antonelli, the current leader in the Formula 1 championship, expressed a lack of confidence during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, stating he was driving 'like his grandmother.' Despite starting from 16th due to a qualifying crash, he managed to recover to finish fifth, but his lead over teammate George Russell was reduced to 66 points as Russell claimed victory. Antonelli faced challenges throughout the race, including technical issues that limited his practice time and significant floor damage from contact with another car. He acknowledged that he had to adapt his driving style due to the circumstances, taking fewer risks and capitalising on mistakes made by other drivers. Looking ahead, he remains optimistic about the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.

Sky Sports F1Sat 26 Sep

Norris hits out after Baku pile-up DNF with AlpineLando Norris expressed his frustration after being taken out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to a collision caused by Franco Colapinto. Following the incident, Norris stated that there are drivers who do not belong in Formula 1, implying that Colapinto's actions were unacceptable. The crash occurred during a Safety Car restart on lap 36, leading to both Norris and Pierre Gasly retiring from the race. Colapinto acknowledged his mistake and accepted responsibility, apologising to his team and teammates. He received a 10-second time penalty, which will affect his grid position in the next race. Gasly, visibly upset, highlighted the significant points lost due to the incident, while also emphasising the importance of respect in their working relationship.

espn.comSat 26 Sep

Briatore to reflect on necessary action after Colapinto's "poor" Baku blunderFlavio Briatore, the Alpine Formula 1 chief, expressed his disappointment with Franco Colapinto's actions during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Colapinto collided with his teammate Pierre Gasly, resulting in both drivers retiring from the race. Briatore described the incident as a 'very poor move' and acknowledged the loss of valuable championship points for the team. Colapinto's crash occurred during a restart on lap 36, where he locked his front tyres and crashed into Gasly, also affecting Lando Norris. Briatore stated that he would reflect on the incident and consider necessary actions to prevent similar occurrences in the future, while Colapinto has taken full responsibility for his mistake.

AutosportSat 26 Sep

Alpine's Flavio Briatore rips into Franco Colapinto's Baku blunder: "A very poor move"Flavio Briatore, the Alpine Formula 1 chief, expressed his disappointment with Franco Colapinto after the latter crashed into his teammate Pierre Gasly during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident occurred on lap 36 during a safety car restart, resulting in both drivers being taken out of the race and costing Alpine a potential double points finish. Lando Norris, who was also involved in the crash, called for the FIA to consider a race ban for Colapinto's careless driving. Briatore stated that such incidents should not happen, especially when both cars were in scoring positions. He acknowledged that Colapinto has accepted responsibility for the crash and described it as a significant mistake for a driver of his experience. Briatore is now contemplating the next steps to ensure that similar situations do not occur in the future, as Alpine aims to learn from this setback.

Motorsport.comSat 26 Sep

6

MV

Max VerstappenRed Bull

Oscar PiastriMcLaren

Isack HadjarRed Bull

Liam LawsonRB F1 Team

Pierre GaslyAlpine F1 Team

11ALArvid LindbladRB F1 Team

Franco ColapintoAlpine F1 Team

Oliver BearmanHaas F1 Team

Gabriel BortoletoAudi

Nico HülkenbergAudi

Esteban OconHaas F1 Team

17CSCarlos SainzWilliams

Alexander AlbonWilliams

Fernando AlonsoAston Martin

Yuki TsunodaRB F1 Team

Lance StrollAston Martin

Valtteri BottasCadillac F1 Team

23SPSergio PérezCadillac F1 Team

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