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via RacingNews365Hadjar and Sainz face investigation after Baku raceIsack Hadjar's third-place finish and Carlos Sainz's tenth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix are under investigation by the FIA due to alleged practice-start infringements. Both drivers have been summoned to meet with the race stewards to discuss the matter.
via Motorsport.comFranco Colapinto apologises for Azerbaijan GP crashFranco Colapinto has expressed regret after a crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that eliminated both his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris. Colapinto described the incident as a 'big mistake' and acknowledged the significant impact it had on their races.
via gpfans.comF1 star OUT of Azerbaijan Grand Prix as safety car deployedAlex Albon crashed his Williams car into the Tecpro barriers during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading to the deployment of the safety car. The incident occurred on lap 31, resulting in three drivers not finishing the race.
Following the crash, Albon reassured fans that he was unharmed. The safety car allowed several drivers to pit, taking advantage of the situation to save time during the race.
via Motorsport.comAlex Albon and Carlos Sainz reveal F1 boys' trip plansAlex Albon and Carlos Sainz have announced plans for a boys' trip in Asia, taking advantage of the schedule between the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix. They mentioned that several Formula 1 drivers will join them, and Albon expressed excitement about the trip during an interview ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The trip comes as Sainz faces a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow under yellow flag conditions, starting the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 14th position. Both drivers are currently positioned low in the championship standings, with Sainz in 16th and Albon in 17th.
via Motorsport WeekCharles Leclerc pins hopes on crucial Ferrari trait to challenge in BakuCharles Leclerc is optimistic about Ferrari's race pace as he prepares for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, having secured a surprising second place on the grid despite the team's struggles in free practice. He noted that while the car felt better during qualifying, the significant gap to George Russell remains a concern, particularly regarding straight-line speed and tyre management.
Leclerc highlighted the unpredictability of the car this weekend, which has hindered his ability to take risks on the tight Baku circuit. He remains hopeful that the SF-26 will show its strengths during the race, as it often performs better than in qualifying. Leclerc is determined to give his best effort to challenge for victory against Russell.
via gpfans.comLewis Hamilton and Ferrari in turmoil after Mercedes humiliation at Azerbaijan Grand PrixLewis Hamilton and Ferrari faced a disappointing qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Hamilton finishing sixth and over 1.3 seconds behind pole position. Despite upgrades to the car, Ferrari's performance fell short, leaving Hamilton feeling dejected and questioning the team's strategy.
The struggles of Ferrari continue as they have not won a drivers' championship since 2007, highlighting ongoing issues within the team. Hamilton's hopes of competing for the title have diminished significantly, and the team appears to be in turmoil as they grapple with their performance and strategy.
via Motorsport.comWilliams’ long-awaited F1 upgrade is delivering in Baku – but was Q3 an “overachievement”?Williams Racing has celebrated its best qualifying result of the 2026 season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Carlos Sainz achieving 9th place in qualifying. This improvement comes after the introduction of a new chassis that has addressed the car's previous weight issues, allowing for better performance on the track.
Despite the positive outcome, both Sainz and Alexander Albon expressed caution regarding the upgrade's potential, noting that the car's handling remains a concern. Albon highlighted the need for further aerodynamic improvements as they prepare for the upcoming races in Malaysia and Singapore, which feature different track characteristics.
via Formula1.comPiastri assesses 'surprise' Qualifying result in BakuOscar Piastri qualified third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, surprising himself with the pace after a subdued practice session for McLaren. Piastri briefly held second place during qualifying, while Lando Norris finished fifth after a costly lock-up on his final attempt. George Russell took pole position, with Charles Leclerc just ahead of Piastri by a narrow margin.
Piastri remarked on McLaren's tendency to find extra performance during qualifying, contrasting with their practice struggles. Norris, while pleased with his driving, pointed out underlying car issues that limited his performance. Both drivers are now looking to convert their qualifying positions into a strong race performance, despite uncertainties about their race pace.
via the-race.comSainz loses Williams's best grid slot of 2026Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams, has been handed a five-place grid penalty for failing to heed yellow flags during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session. This penalty means Sainz will start from 14th position, denying Williams its best grid slot of the year, which was previously held by Alex Albon in 11th place. The stewards determined that Sainz did not adequately reduce his speed in the relevant yellow-flag sector, despite receiving warnings from his team.
In addition to Sainz's penalty, Sergio Perez of Cadillac also faced a three-position penalty for impeding McLaren's Oscar Piastri. However, due to engine component penalties affecting Aston Martin drivers, Perez will only drop one position, starting from 20th. The penalties highlight the strict enforcement of yellow flag regulations and traffic management during qualifying sessions in Formula 1.
via RaceFansVerstappen calls Baku qualifying a disaster after issuesMax Verstappen described his qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'disaster' after experiencing an engine problem that hindered his performance. The Red Bull driver will start from eighth on the grid, expressing disappointment with the team's qualifying issues.
via RaceFansCarlos Sainz receives grid penalty for Azerbaijan GPCarlos Sainz has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after breaching yellow flag regulations during qualifying. The penalty comes after Sainz achieved his best qualifying performance of the season with Williams.
via RacingNews365Oscar Piastri concedes defeat to George RussellOscar Piastri admitted that McLaren had no chance of outpacing George Russell during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite securing third on the grid, Piastri noted he was comfortably behind Russell's pace.
via f1oversteer.comGeorge Russell takes pole position in BakuGeorge 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.
via RacingNews365Kimi Antonelli criticises himself after Baku qualifying crashKimi Antonelli expressed frustration over his qualifying crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, labelling it a 'very stupid' mistake that left him starting 16th on the grid. The championship leader acknowledged the need to improve his performance following the unforced error in Q1.
via f1chronicle.comCarlos Sainz’s Underrated Record at the Azerbaijan Grand PrixCarlos Sainz Jr. had a remarkable performance at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, qualifying second and finishing third, marking a significant achievement for Williams. This result was their first front-row start since 2021 and showcased Sainz's skill in navigating the challenging Baku circuit, despite the team's struggles with car handling in previous races.
Throughout his career at Baku, Sainz has consistently demonstrated his ability to perform well, with five top-10 finishes in seven races. His best result came in 2023 when he finished fifth with Ferrari, and he has maintained a solid average finishing position at the track. Sainz's recent podium finish is a testament to his talent and resilience, contributing to Williams' hopes for a resurgence in performance.
via CrashVerstappen tops final practice ahead of Azerbaijan GPMax Verstappen set the fastest time in the final practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, narrowly beating George Russell. Lewis Hamilton also featured prominently, finishing third as Red Bull and Mercedes prepared for qualifying.
via f1oversteer.comMax Verstappen tops final practice at Azerbaijan GPMax Verstappen of Red Bull Racing secured the fastest time in the final practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ending George Russell's dominance in earlier sessions. Russell, driving for Mercedes, finished second, followed by Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in third.
via Motorsport.comDavid Coulthard warns "heads will roll" if Williams FW48 upgrade failsDavid Coulthard has issued a stark warning regarding the Williams FW48 upgrade, stating that significant consequences could follow if it fails to improve the team's performance. The Grove-based team has struggled throughout the season, currently sitting ninth in the constructors' championship with only 11 points, largely due to the car's overweight issues.
The upgrade, described by team principal James Vowles as nearly a B-spec car, is aimed at enhancing performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Coulthard, drawing comparisons to Aston Martin's previous upgrades, believes that the changes should yield a notable improvement. However, he cautioned that if the expected results do not materialise, there could be serious repercussions for the team.
via Sky Sports F1'Pretty pants!' - Norris rules McLaren out of Baku pole fightLando Norris expressed disappointment with McLaren's performance during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice sessions, stating they were significantly off the pace, specifically 1.5 seconds slower than Mercedes' George Russell. Despite bringing a major upgrade package to Baku, Norris felt the new parts did not yield immediate improvements, and he ruled out a contention for pole position.
George Russell, who topped both practice sessions, expects the gaps to tighten in qualifying. Kimi Antonelli faced issues with a hydraulics leak but managed to recover well in the second session. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton noted Ferrari's struggles with tyre performance and straight-line speed, indicating a challenging day for the team.
via PlanetF1Audi introduces extensive upgrade for Azerbaijan Grand PrixAudi has unveiled a significant upgrade package for their Formula 1 car ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The update includes numerous new components, marking one of the most comprehensive car updates seen this season.Page 1 of 13













