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via CrashLando Norris reflects on Baku qualifying errorLando Norris admitted he would "rather die pushing" after making a costly error during the qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The McLaren driver expressed his determination to leave nothing on the table despite the setback he faced in Q3.
via the-race.comWinners and losers from F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifyingGeorge Russell dominated the qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, achieving pole position with a significant margin of 0.837 seconds. His teammate Kimi Antonelli faced difficulties, qualifying 16th after a collision with the barrier, while Max Verstappen struggled with engine problems, finishing 8th. Isack Hadjar impressed with a 4th place finish, just missing out on the front row, while Audi's performance was disappointing, with both drivers exiting in Q1.
Carlos Sainz's 9th place marked a notable achievement for Williams, who had both cars in Q3 for the first time this season. Esteban Ocon expressed frustration after qualifying 14th, hindered by yellow flags. Alpine had a strong showing with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto qualifying 7th and 10th, respectively. Sergio Perez's qualifying session ended in disappointment, as he finished 20th after a series of misfortunes.
via Formula1.comLeclerc lacks confidence in Ferrari ahead of Baku raceCharles Leclerc expressed concerns about the unpredictability of his Ferrari car, which affected his confidence during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite securing a front-row grid slot, Leclerc noted the significant gap to pole position and felt unable to drive with his usual commitment.
via RacingNews365Lewis Hamilton criticises tyres after Azerbaijan qualifyingLewis Hamilton expressed frustration with the tyres used during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying, calling them 'a pain in the arse' after finishing in sixth place. The seven-time champion also pointed to a 'perfect storm' of issues involving Ferrari and Pirelli during the session.
via Motorsport.comLewis Hamilton criticises Ferrari's qualifying strategyLewis Hamilton expressed frustration over Ferrari's qualifying strategy during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, stating it left him without a crucial slipstream. He noted that his performance deteriorated throughout the qualifying session.
via Motorsport.comIsack Hadjar bullish: If I hadn't missed three races, I'd be second on the gridIsack Hadjar, driving for Red Bull Racing, qualified fourth for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but expressed confidence that he could have secured second place if he had not missed the previous three races due to a wrist injury. His qualifying time was just 0.137 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc, who took second, while Hadjar outperformed Max Verstappen, who qualified eighth.
Hadjar described his approach during the comeback as cautious, aiming to avoid risks while gradually building confidence. He acknowledged improvements in his car's handling since his last race in Hungary, but admitted that Mercedes still had a significant speed advantage, particularly in straight-line performance. This qualifying result marks Hadjar's best performance since the season opener in Melbourne.
via F1iKimi Antonelli criticises his Baku qualifying errorKimi Antonelli described his early exit from qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'very stupid' mistake. The incident has left him starting towards the back of the grid for the race.
via PlanetF1Alonso and Stroll start from the back in AzerbaijanFernando Alonso and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin will start from the back of the grid at the 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to multiple power unit component changes. The full starting grid has been confirmed, with Charles Leclerc from Ferrari and George Russell from Mercedes occupying the front row.
via CrashLewis Hamilton criticises Ferrari's qualifying strategyLewis Hamilton expressed frustration over Ferrari's qualifying strategy during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, stating it left him without a slipstream. Hamilton noted that his performance deteriorated throughout the session, ultimately finishing 0.5 seconds slower.
via RaceFans2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in pictures | F1 PicturesThe 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was held at the Baku City Circuit, featuring prominent drivers from various teams. Notable participants included Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris from McLaren, Isack Hadjar from Red Bull, and Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin.
The event showcased a mix of competitive racing and team strategies, with each driver aiming for a strong performance. The picturesque backdrop of Baku added to the excitement of the race, making it a significant event in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
via Motorsport WeekGeorge Russell capitalises on Antonelli shunt with dominant F1 Baku poleGeorge Russell achieved a commanding pole position for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking his fifth pole of the season. He finished with a time of 1:42.526, significantly ahead of Charles Leclerc, who was 0.837 seconds slower. This performance comes after a strong qualifying session where Russell capitalised on Kimi Antonelli's early crash, which left Antonelli starting from P16.
The qualifying session saw various ups and downs, including Max Verstappen's disappointing eighth-place finish despite his earlier pace in Free Practice 3. Oscar Piastri's strong performance secured him third on the grid, while Isack Hadjar impressed with a fourth-place finish. The session was marked by multiple yellow flags and competitive times as drivers battled for the best positions on the grid.
via RacingNews365George Russell secures pole position in BakuGeorge Russell achieved pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a remarkable lap time that was 0.837 seconds faster than Charles Leclerc, marking the largest margin since Canada 2023. Russell's performance silenced previous doubts from Jacques Villeneuve and showcased his dominance during the qualifying session.
via RacingNews365George Russell secures pole by biggest career marginGeorge Russell expressed his shock after achieving pole position by the largest margin of his career during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc noted that this gap is the biggest between the pole-sitter and the second-place starter this season.
via RaceFansGeorge Russell secures pole for Azerbaijan Grand PrixGeorge Russell will start the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole position for Mercedes. The starting grid has been adjusted due to penalties affecting several drivers.
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 f1oversteer.comArvid Lindblad shares why he now ‘respects’ Max Verstappen more than F1 ‘idol’ Lewis HamiltonArvid Lindblad, a driver for Racing Bulls, has expressed that he now holds Max Verstappen in higher regard than his childhood idol, Lewis Hamilton. Lindblad, who grew up watching Hamilton dominate Formula 1, has shifted his admiration towards Verstappen, particularly appreciating his race management skills and overall performance as he embarks on his own F1 career.
Having made his F1 debut in 2026 after a rapid rise through the ranks, Lindblad has already shown promise with points finishes in eight of his last nine races. He acknowledges the challenges of transitioning to F1 and sees Verstappen and Charles Leclerc as key figures from whom he can learn to enhance his skills on the track.
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 CrashZak Brown keeps future options open for Max VerstappenZak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, stated that the door remains 'wide open' for Max Verstappen to potentially join the team in the future. Brown expressed his admiration for Verstappen following their discussions last summer, despite the Dutch driver being contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2030.
via the-race.comF1 rejects Hamilton's idea for managing dangerous Baku closing speedsLewis Hamilton's proposal to modify energy management rules at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was dismissed by Formula 1 teams. The suggestion came after a near-miss incident with Liam Lawson during practice, highlighting the dangers posed by the current rules that lead to significant speed differentials between drivers on out laps and those on timed runs.
Hamilton's idea aimed to ensure maximum power deployment until after Turn 19 to mitigate the risks of closing speeds, which were noted to be around 50km/h. However, teams felt it was impractical to implement such changes so late in the weekend, as it would require a complete overhaul of their energy strategies with limited practice time remaining.Page 7 of 41