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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.
Fri 25 Sep · 14:36 UTC
via RacingNews365Furious Max Verstappen 'completely done' after latest Red Bull problemMax Verstappen expressed his anger after a battery issue hindered his performance during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, resulting in an eighth-place finish. He had been competitive earlier in the session but faced difficulties in Q3, which he attributed to the car's failure to charge properly and other mechanical problems.
Verstappen, who had shown strong pace throughout the weekend, felt that the changes made to the car did not yield positive results. He was particularly frustrated with the inability to push effectively due to the battery not being fully charged, leading to a disappointing qualifying session that left him significantly behind his teammate Isack Hadjar.
Fri 25 Sep · 14:30 UTC
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.
+ 6 moreFri 25 Sep · 14:01 UTC
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.Sat 26 Sep · 12:05 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.
Fri 25 Sep · 13:35 UTC
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.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 13:27 UTC
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.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 13:27 UTC
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.+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 13:22 UTC
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.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 13:07 UTC
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.+ 13 more
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 gpfans.comGeorge Russell secures pole for Azerbaijan Grand PrixGeorge Russell has achieved provisional pole position for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, driving for Mercedes. He was followed closely by Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri in the qualifying session held in Baku.
+ 6 moreFri 25 Sep · 11:47 UTC
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.
Fri 25 Sep · 11:30 UTC
via RacingNews365The evidence behind Max Verstappen being a real Mercedes Baku pole threatMax Verstappen enters the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying as a strong contender after finishing first in the final practice session. Despite not having secured a pole position in the 2026 season, his recent performances indicate he is closing in on that goal, having qualified third in Spain and sixth in Italy.
Red Bull has introduced a significant aerodynamic upgrade for this race, which includes a redesigned floor and diffuser aimed at enhancing downforce. Team principal Laurent Mekies has stated that this will be the team's final major development for the season as they shift focus to the 2027 car. With Baku's unique track characteristics favouring Red Bull, Verstappen's chances of achieving his first pole of the season look promising.Fri 25 Sep · 11:10 UTC
via PlanetF1Verstappen fastest in Baku as tow drops quali clue and Stroll crashesMax Verstappen topped the timesheets in the third practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clocking a lap of 1:43.922 to outpace George Russell by a narrow margin. Lewis Hamilton also showed competitive pace, finishing third, just 0.111 seconds off Verstappen's best time. The session saw a slow start, with only a handful of drivers setting times early on, but it picked up as the drivers switched to soft tyres for qualifying simulations.
Lance Stroll's session ended prematurely after he crashed into the wall, adding to Aston Martin's woes as they already face significant grid penalties. Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz faced their own challenges, with Antonelli reporting handling issues and Sainz being noted for investigation by the stewards. Overall, the session was marked by close competition among the top teams as they prepared for qualifying.
Fri 25 Sep · 09:39 UTC
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.
+ 7 moreFri 25 Sep · 09:38 UTC
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.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 09:37 UTC
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen threatens in 'kangaroo' Red Bull as Mercedes Baku dominance endsMax Verstappen secured the fastest time in the final practice session ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clocking a 1m 43.922s. This performance marked a shift in momentum, as Mercedes had dominated earlier practices with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finishing second and third respectively, but could not match Verstappen's pace in the final session.
The practice session began slowly, with drivers adjusting to track conditions after overnight repairs. Verstappen expressed frustration with his car's handling, describing it as 'jumping like a kangaroo.' Despite this, he managed to outperform his competitors, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session ahead.Fri 25 Sep · 09:36 UTC
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.+ 4 moreFri 25 Sep · 09:21 UTC
via CrashVasseur responds to Horner's Ferrari job speculationFrederic Vasseur has expressed frustration over ongoing speculation regarding Christian Horner potentially replacing him as Ferrari's team principal. Vasseur stated that Horner's comments about Ferrari being his 'dream' job have become a distraction for the team as they aim for a strong finish in the championship.+ 13 morePage 6 of 53