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via newsonf1.comTop rivals defend Antonelli after mistakeKimi Antonelli made a significant mistake during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, resulting in a P16 starting position. This error, described as a rare setback in an otherwise strong season, drew immediate support from rivals including Max Verstappen and George Russell, who highlighted Antonelli's youth and previous flawless performances.
Despite the setback, Lando Norris expressed confidence in Antonelli's ability to recover, suggesting he could finish strongly in the race. Meanwhile, Russell's impressive pole position raised questions about the performance gap between Mercedes and Red Bull, with Verstappen's engine issues compounding the team's challenges. The situation has sparked discussions about the current power unit regulations in Formula 1.
via RacingNews365McLaren declare door 'wide open' for Verstappen as Antonelli suffers knock - RacingNews365 ReviewZak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, has expressed that the possibility for Max Verstappen to join the team remains open, despite Verstappen's recent contract extension with Red Bull Racing. This statement highlights McLaren's interest in the reigning world champion, suggesting they are keen on future collaboration.
In other news from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, suffered a significant setback by crashing during qualifying. Meanwhile, George Russell's pole position offers him a chance to gain points on his teammate Antonelli, who is currently facing challenges in the title race.
via gpfans.comKimi Antonelli faces pressure ahead of Azerbaijan GPKimi Antonelli, the current leader in the Formula 1 standings, is under scrutiny as he approaches the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Concerns have been raised about the potential for a repeat of last year's situation, where Oscar Piastri, the previous points leader, faced difficulties.
via RacingNews365Lewis Hamilton 'pain in the ass' as George Russell sets three-year highGeorge Russell achieved a stunning pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, taking advantage of a significant mistake by Kimi Antonelli, who crashed at the first corner during Q1. This pole position marks the largest margin since Max Verstappen's performance at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix, showcasing Russell's impressive speed and skill.
Both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were left frustrated after the qualifying session. Verstappen faced engine problems, while Hamilton struggled with tyre issues, which contributed to their disappointing results. Antonelli's crash not only affected his own qualifying but also opened the door for Russell's remarkable performance.
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 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 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 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 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.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.Wikimedia Commons · Yu Chu Chin · CC BY-SA 4.0Kimi ANTONELLI leads the Practice 3 at BakuKimi ANTONELLI takes the lead from Lewis HAMILTON — live from Baku, Azerbaijan.
via gpfans.comGeorge Russell secures pole position in BakuGeorge Russell achieved pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, providing him with a significant opportunity to reduce Kimi Antonelli's championship lead. This comes after Russell's Mercedes team-mate crashed out during the qualifying session.
via PlanetF1Russell tells Antonelli pressure is now on himGeorge Russell stated that Kimi Antonelli is now under pressure in their title fight following his recent victory in Azerbaijan. Antonelli, however, believes he can ignore the pressure from rivals who claim the championship is already his.
via RacingNews365Oscar Piastri to start from second row in BakuOscar Piastri will begin the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the second row after a strong performance in qualifying. McLaren's improved pace was highlighted during the session, contributing to Piastri's competitive starting position.
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.
via RacingNews365Kimi Antonelli praises Baku recovery after lost practice timeKimi Antonelli, the current Formula 1 championship leader, expressed satisfaction with his recovery during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after losing significant practice time. Despite the setback, Antonelli managed to secure the second-fastest time in the final practice session.
via f1oversteer.comJock Clear has seen a ‘Michael Schumacher-esque’ trait in Kimi Antonelli even Max Verstappen lackedJock Clear, a long-time Ferrari performance engineer, has expressed admiration for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, likening his ability to engage fans to that of Michael Schumacher. Antonelli, who is currently leading the 2026 Formula 1 standings with eight wins, has captured the hearts of Ferrari supporters, particularly after his victory at Monza, making him the first Italian to win there since 1966.
Clear noted that Antonelli's impressive performance this season, including his ability to avoid major mistakes, sets him apart from his competitors, including George Russell. Despite facing some reliability issues, Antonelli's consistent results have positioned him as a strong contender for the championship, potentially making him the youngest F1 champion in history.
via Formula1.comKimi Antonelli praises recovery after Baku practice issuesKimi Antonelli described his performance in practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'good recovery' following a hydraulic issue and a fire that damaged his engine. Despite losing significant track time in the first two practice sessions, the Mercedes driver finished second-quickest in the final hour of running.
via F1iGeorge Russell leads practice sessions in BakuGeorge Russell of Mercedes topped both practice sessions ahead of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. The team's performance indicates a strong start to the race weekend.Page 5 of 30
