George RussellIsack HadjarLiam LawsonMartin Brundle 
via espn.comRussell on pole: 'Biggest margin in whole career'George Russell expressed his surprise after achieving pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a margin of 0.837 seconds over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. This gap marks the largest in Formula 1 qualifying since Max Verstappen's pole at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix. Russell noted that this was the biggest margin of his career across all racing series, including Formula 2 and GP3.
Russell, currently second in the drivers' championship, highlighted his growing confidence with the car and the progress made since the summer break. Despite his strong performance, he downplayed the significance of Antonelli's crash, acknowledging that mistakes are part of any championship campaign. He remains focused on continuing to improve and compete for the title.
espn.comFri 25 Sep · 16:16 UTC
via F1iVerstappen calls Baku qualifying a disasterMax Verstappen expressed frustration over his qualifying performance in Baku, citing multiple errors that hindered his chances of starting alongside George Russell on the front row. The Red Bull Racing driver described the session as a 'disaster' following a dramatic finish.
F1i+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 15:42 UTC
via Motorsport WeekOscar Piastri makes McLaren ‘no hope’ concession after Mercedes F1 trouncingOscar Piastri admitted that McLaren had no chance of beating George Russell for pole position during the qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Piastri will start the race in third place, behind Russell and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, while his teammate Lando Norris qualified fifth. This marks the sixth time this season that Piastri has out-qualified Norris.
Despite a challenging start to the weekend, McLaren discovered additional pace during qualifying. Piastri expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, noting the difficulties posed by windy conditions on the track. He highlighted the unpredictability of the car's balance due to gusts, which made qualifying particularly challenging.
Motorsport WeekFri 25 Sep · 14:38 UTC
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.
Motorsport.comFri 25 Sep · 14:36 UTC
via Motorsport.com1 videoGeorge Russell's "biggest threat" in Azerbaijan GP: Max Verstappen or Kimi Antonelli?George Russell, driving for Mercedes, has qualified in pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and considers Max Verstappen his biggest threat in the race. Kimi Antonelli, his teammate, crashed during qualifying, which left him starting in 16th place despite having shown strong pace earlier in the season. Russell acknowledged Antonelli's potential for a comeback, referencing his impressive recovery from 19th to first in Monza.
Verstappen faced difficulties in qualifying, finishing 8th due to issues with his internal combustion engine. Russell, currently 81 points behind Antonelli in the drivers' championship, expressed a renewed sense of confidence and excitement as he prepares for the race, despite the pressure of needing to improve his season performance.Motorsport.comFri 25 Sep · 14:52 UTC
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.Motorsport WeekFri 25 Sep · 13:35 UTC
via gpfans.comMartin Brundle will MISS the Azerbaijan Grand Prix - and this is whyMartin Brundle will not participate in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as confirmed by GPFans. His absence is part of a contractual agreement with Sky Sports F1, which limits him to 16 out of 24 races in a season. Due to the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the 2026 season now has 23 scheduled races.
This will mark the fourth race Brundle has missed this season, following the Chinese, Japanese, and Dutch Grands Prix. In his absence, Sky Sports will feature Natalie Pinkham as presenter, with Jamie Chadwick and Jacques Villeneuve providing punditry. David Croft and Karun Chandhok will handle commentary duties during the event.
gpfans.comFri 25 Sep · 12:11 UTC
via racer.comVerstappen takes charge in third F1 practice session at BakuMax Verstappen secured the fastest time in the third practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, narrowly beating George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Despite gusty conditions, Verstappen managed a session-best time of 1m 43.922s, showcasing competitive performance throughout the hour.
Russell initially led the session before Verstappen's late effort, while Hamilton's strong slipstreaming helped him achieve a high speed of 320kph. Other notable performances included Kimi Antonelli in fourth and Pierre Gasly in sixth, while Sergio Perez struggled, finishing 16th. The session was marked by challenging wind conditions that affected several drivers.
racer.comFri 25 Sep · 11:15 UTC
via Formula1.comVerstappen beats Russell and Hamilton in Azerbaijan FP3Max Verstappen secured the fastest time in Free Practice 3 for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clocking a lap of 1 minute 43.922 seconds. He edged out George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who finished second and third respectively, as drivers pushed their limits on the challenging Baku circuit.
The session saw several drivers struggle with the windy conditions, leading to multiple incidents, including Lance Stroll damaging his Aston Martin after hitting the wall. Despite the challenges, Verstappen's performance placed him in a strong position ahead of the qualifying session later in the day.
Formula1.comFri 25 Sep · 10:01 UTC
via the-race.comWhat happened in F1 2026 Azerbaijan GP final practiceIn the final practice session for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Max Verstappen of Red Bull emerged as the fastest driver, clocking a time of 1m43.922s. He edged out Mercedes' George Russell, who was just 0.099 seconds slower, while Lewis Hamilton claimed third place, 0.111 seconds off Verstappen's pace. Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc completed the top five, showcasing a competitive session.
The session was marked by tight competition, with only half a second separating positions 10th to 17th. Oscar Piastri led the McLaren team in seventh, while Fernando Alonso struggled in 20th place. Lance Stroll experienced a notable incident when he clipped the pitwall, adding to the drama of the session. Overall, the practice highlighted the close racing expected for the upcoming Grand Prix.
the-race.comFri 25 Sep · 09:59 UTC
via Motorsport WeekMax Verstappen denies George Russell clean sweep in F1 Baku FP3Max Verstappen claimed the fastest time in Free Practice 3 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, narrowly beating George Russell by 0.099 seconds. This victory prevented Russell from achieving a clean sweep of the practice sessions, as he had dominated the earlier sessions with a Mercedes 1-2 finish alongside teammate Kimi Antonelli.
The final practice session was marked by chaotic conditions, with several drivers struggling with grip and making mistakes. Verstappen's late push saw him rise to the top of the leaderboard, while Hamilton and Antonelli also showed strong performances. The session set the stage for a competitive qualifying ahead.Motorsport WeekFri 25 Sep · 09:43 UTC
via Motorsport.comLewis Hamilton reprimanded for impeding Liam LawsonLewis Hamilton received a reprimand for impeding Liam Lawson during the second practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite the incident being labelled as 'dangerous', it has not prompted any changes to current regulations.Motorsport.com+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 08:37 UTC
via newsonf1.comRalf Schumacher supports Tsolov over Lawson for 2027Ralf Schumacher has expressed his belief that Red Bull should promote Nikola Tsolov to the Racing Bulls for the 2027 season instead of retaining Liam Lawson. This comes despite Lawson's strong performances while substituting for Isack Hadjar.newsonf1.com+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 07:03 UTC
via PlanetF1Lewis Hamilton blames F1 power unit rules after Liam Lawson near-missLewis Hamilton has attributed his near-miss with Liam Lawson during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice session to the current Formula 1 power unit regulations rather than a mistake on his part. The stewards issued a reprimand to Hamilton for not following traffic-management instructions, which resulted in Lawson encountering him unexpectedly while on a qualifying simulation run.
Hamilton explained that the extreme closing speed between drivers on different energy deployment strategies contributed to the incident. He expressed hope that drivers and the FIA could discuss the issue in their upcoming briefing to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
PlanetF1Fri 25 Sep · 06:38 UTC
via f1chronicle.comGeorge Russell Tops Day 1 Timesheets In BakuGeorge Russell dominated the first day of practice in Baku, achieving the fastest lap in both the first and second free practice sessions. In FP2, he clocked a time of 1:43.347, with teammate Kimi Antonelli following closely behind. Max Verstappen secured the third-fastest time, showcasing a competitive field as teams prepared for the upcoming Grand Prix.
The sessions were marked by varying track conditions, with significant temperature changes affecting tyre performance. Teams focused on optimising car setups to adapt to the evolving track surface, which was described as particularly dirty. Pirelli's Chief Engineer noted that track evolution played a crucial role in lap time improvements throughout the day.
f1chronicle.comThu 24 Sep · 21:51 UTC
via f1chronicle.comLewis Hamilton Admits Chasing George Russell, Not Kimi Antonelli, Is Now His Real Championship BattleLewis Hamilton has acknowledged that he is unlikely to catch Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers' Championship, as he trails by 101 points. Instead, he is now focusing on George Russell, who is just 20 points ahead of him in the standings. Hamilton believes that finishing second or maintaining third place would be a significant achievement for him and Ferrari this season, especially after a challenging 2025 campaign.
As the Azerbaijan Grand Prix approaches, Hamilton is preparing for a crucial triple header of races. He has expressed optimism about Ferrari's recent improvements and is determined to address execution issues that have hindered their performance. With 83 points available in the upcoming races, Hamilton's strategy has shifted to defending his position against Russell and Lando Norris, marking a change in his championship aspirations.f1chronicle.comThu 24 Sep · 21:26 UTC
via f1oversteer.comAlex Brundle disagrees with Oscar Piastri about his ‘main issue’ amid drubbing by Lando NorrisOscar Piastri is facing challenges in the 2026 season, particularly in his performance compared to teammate Lando Norris. Despite Piastri's belief that race pace is his main issue, Alex Brundle argues that his qualifying struggles are the root cause of his difficulties, as he consistently starts behind Norris.
Brundle highlighted that Piastri's qualifying record, with Norris leading 9-1, significantly hampers his chances on race day. As they head into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, qualifying will be critical for Piastri to close the gap and improve his standing against Norris.
f1oversteer.comThu 24 Sep · 20:00 UTC
via RacingNews365Liam Lawson returns to Racing Bulls for Azerbaijan GPLiam Lawson is set to return to Racing Bulls for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after filling in for the injured Isack Hadjar. Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane praised Lawson's performances during his stint with the team.
RacingNews365+ 1 moreThu 24 Sep · 18:15 UTC
via f1oversteer.comRalf Schumacher thinks Red Bull just put the final nail in Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls coffinRalf Schumacher believes he has seen proof that Red Bull intend to drop Liam Lawson from the Racing Bulls line-up and replace him with Nikola ...f1oversteer.comThu 24 Sep · 18:00 UTC
via racer.comHamilton urges changes after near-miss with LawsonLewis Hamilton has called for changes to Formula 1’s engine management system following a high-speed near-miss with Liam Lawson during practice in Baku. Hamilton received a reprimand from the stewards for impeding Lawson, highlighting concerns over safety with the current regulations.racer.com+ 1 moreThu 24 Sep · 17:11 UTC
via Formula1.comGeorge Russell tops Practice 3 at Baku Grand PrixGeorge Russell led the third practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outperforming his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli. The session indicated that Mercedes could be the team to beat this weekend.Formula1.com+ 1 moreThu 24 Sep · 17:02 UTC
via f1oversteer.comLiam Lawson's data implicated in Arvid Lindblad's crashJolyon Palmer suggested that Liam Lawson's data misled Arvid Lindblad, contributing to the latter's crash during the second practice session in Azerbaijan. Lindblad's session ended early after he made contact with the barriers, resulting in red flags.f1oversteer.com+ 1 moreThu 24 Sep · 17:00 UTC
via RacingNews365Lando Norris suffering 'knife in the heart' over McLaren Baku realityLando Norris expressed disappointment over McLaren's performance during Free Practice 2 at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing sixth but significantly slower than George Russell. He described the experience as feeling like 'a little knife in the heart,' highlighting the struggles of the MCL40 despite recent upgrades.
Norris acknowledged that the Baku circuit's layout, with its slow-speed corners and long straight, revealed the car's weaknesses. He noted a challenging start to the day after losing time in FP1 but remained optimistic about the team's ability to analyse data and improve for the upcoming sessions.RacingNews365Thu 24 Sep · 15:45 UTC
via CrashLewis Hamilton blames F1 rules for Baku near-miss: ‘Not the drivers’ fault'Lewis Hamilton has attributed his near-miss with Liam Lawson during the second practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to the new engine regulations introduced for the 2026 season. Hamilton was on an out-lap and harvesting energy when Lawson, on a hot lap, had to take evasive action to avoid a collision, leading to Lawson's furious reaction over team radio. Both drivers have been summoned by the stewards for an investigation into the incident.
Hamilton explained that the current rules leave drivers with significantly reduced power during out-laps, which can create dangerous situations on track. He expressed his frustration with the lack of guidelines regarding closing speeds and suggested that discussions should take place among drivers to address these issues. Hamilton hopes that a solution can be found to prevent similar incidents in the future.
CrashThu 24 Sep · 15:30 UTC