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via f1oversteer.comGeorge Russell wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix ahead of VerstappenGeorge Russell secured victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing just 0.196 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. The race was marked by multiple crashes, including one involving Franco Colapinto that altered the race dynamics.
+ 2 moreSat 26 Sep · 12:42 UTC
via gpfans.comGeorge Russell wins 2026 Azerbaijan Grand PrixGeorge Russell secured victory at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, driving for Mercedes. This win allowed him to reduce Andrea Kimi Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points.
+ 7 moreSat 26 Sep · 09:57 UTC34
via CrashFred Vasseur addresses Christian Horner Ferrari rumoursFerrari team principal Fred Vasseur has responded to speculation regarding Christian Horner potentially replacing him. Vasseur expressed frustration over the constant questioning about his future at Ferrari, stating he is asked about it multiple times each day.
+ 3 moreSat 26 Sep · 09:10 UTC
via f1oversteer.comOscar Piastri admits what McLaren did to his car in Baku is ‘never a great sign’Oscar Piastri achieved his best qualifying result of the 2026 season by securing P3 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite facing challenges throughout the weekend. He noted that McLaren had to use cable ties to hold his car together after experiencing issues with loose bargeboards, which he described as 'never a great sign.'
Piastri's performance improved significantly during qualifying after the team removed fuel from his car, allowing him to feel the full benefit of recent upgrades. However, reliability problems plagued McLaren during practice sessions, affecting both Piastri and teammate Lando Norris. Piastri aims to maintain his podium position in the race, although he acknowledges that George Russell and Mercedes are likely to be strong competitors.Sat 26 Sep · 08:00 UTC
via f1oversteer.comTimo Glock saw Laurent Mekies’ real feelings after ‘frustrated’ Max Verstappen rued Red Bull issueMax Verstappen expressed frustration after a battery issue hindered his qualifying performance at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leaving him in P8 on the grid. Despite showing strong pace in practice and Q1, the problem arose during Q3, significantly impacting his speed and lap time.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that the battery issue ruined Verstappen's chances for a better starting position. Timo Glock observed Mekies' tense demeanor while discussing the situation, raising concerns about potential challenges for Verstappen in the race following a promising start to the weekend.Sat 26 Sep · 07:00 UTC
via Motorsport.comVerstappen says Baku was Red Bull's best chance to winMax Verstappen believes that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was Red Bull Racing's best opportunity to secure a victory in the 2026 Formula 1 season. He attributed his poor starting position to an issue with the internal combustion engine.
+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 06:53 UTC
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 newsonf1.comHadjar admits he deliberately held back in BakuIsack Hadjar revealed that he intentionally held back during the Baku qualifying session, prioritising his recovery from a wrist injury. Despite this, he managed to secure a P4 position, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who encountered technical issues. Hadjar expressed that while the result was encouraging, it did not reflect his full potential as he aimed to avoid any mistakes that could jeopardise his recovery.
In his comments, Hadjar acknowledged that he felt Verstappen had outperformed him throughout the weekend. He noted that his absence from the previous races hindered his ability to compete for a front-row position. Hadjar reported that his wrist was coping well, and he completed extensive simulator laps to prepare for the race, indicating his confidence in fighting for a strong position if he starts from fourth.
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.
Sat 26 Sep · 05:00 UTC
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen expects grid penalty after Baku issuesMax Verstappen has confirmed that he will likely face a grid penalty later this season due to an issue with his power unit during qualifying in Baku. The Red Bull driver stated that while he can replace the damaged engine without an immediate penalty, a grid drop is inevitable.
+ 4 moreSat 26 Sep · 04:30 UTC
via Motorsport.comOscar Piastri: I need a tow bar to hook onto Mercedes to fight for Baku winOscar Piastri qualified third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but he expressed doubts about his ability to compete with George Russell of Mercedes, who was significantly faster. Piastri's qualifying time was just 0.001 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, but he lagged 0.838 seconds behind Russell, prompting him to jokingly suggest he needed a tow bar to keep up.
Despite a challenging weekend for McLaren, including a brake issue that required unconventional fixes, Piastri was pleased with his qualifying result. He acknowledged that while Mercedes appeared to have a clear advantage, he believed McLaren could still contend with the other teams in the race, especially with Lando Norris starting fifth.Fri 25 Sep · 23:00 UTC
via f1chronicle.comIsack Hadjar praises Red Bull's progress in BakuIsack Hadjar has expressed satisfaction with the performance of Red Bull's RB22 during his return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. After missing three races due to a wrist injury, Hadjar noted that the car feels better than when he last drove it.
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.Fri 25 Sep · 20:00 UTC
via gpfans.comLewis Hamilton questions Ferrari's performance in BakuLewis Hamilton expressed confusion over Ferrari's struggles during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he qualified and finished sixth. The Mercedes driver noted that Ferrari was over 1.3 seconds off the pace, highlighting a significant drop from their previous competitiveness.+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 18:58 UTC
via the-race.comAlpine's surprise assist with its 2026 F1 revivalAlpine has announced that Daniil Kvyat, a former Red Bull driver, has returned to the team as a simulator driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Kvyat, who has a history with Alpine as a reserve driver in 2021, has been working alongside reserve drivers Paul Aron and Kush Maini, contributing to both simulator duties and race weekend support.
Kvyat has played a significant role in helping Alpine improve its performance during the season, particularly during races in Japan and Canada. The team has seen a resurgence in competitiveness following a switch to Mercedes engines, and Kvyat's experience and feedback have been valuable assets in their revival efforts.
Fri 25 Sep · 18:56 UTC
via racer.comPiastri, Stella see signs of evolution in McLaren Baku turnaroundOscar Piastri achieved a commendable third-place qualifying position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, showcasing his growing familiarity with the 2026 McLaren car. Despite a challenging practice session and engine issues for teammate Lando Norris, Piastri's performance marked a significant turnaround for the team, coming close to outqualifying Charles Leclerc.
Andrea Stella, McLaren's principal, highlighted Piastri's ability to adapt his driving style, which contributed to his success. However, he acknowledged ongoing struggles with straight-line speed compared to the Mercedes team, indicating that improvements are needed in the car's overall performance and aerodynamics.
via racer.com'Shocked' Russell credits thumping pole to growing confidenceGeorge Russell expressed surprise at his commanding pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, attributing his success to growing confidence in his Mercedes car. He dominated qualifying with a margin of 0.837 seconds, the largest of the season, and topped two of the three practice sessions leading up to the event.
Despite acknowledging the impact of teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli's crash in Q1, Russell has shown impressive form since the midseason break, consistently qualifying at the front. Mercedes deputy principal Bradley Lord praised Russell's performance, noting his composed approach throughout the weekend. Russell himself feels a surge of confidence, which he believes is crucial for maintaining performance on the track.
via f1oversteer.comChristian Horner says he lost trust in Adrian NeweyChristian Horner has stated that he realised he could no longer rely on Adrian Newey at Red Bull more than ten years before Newey's departure from the team. This revelation highlights a significant shift in their professional relationship.+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 18:00 UTC
via PlanetF1Lando Norris adopts 'pole or die trying' mindsetLando Norris expressed his determination to secure pole position during a challenging qualifying session in Azerbaijan. The McLaren driver admitted he is in a 'pole or die trying' situation as the season progresses.
+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 17:21 UTC
via f1oversteer.comCharles Leclerc blames Ferrari’s F1 car for destroying his ‘strength’ at the Azerbaijan Grand PrixCharles Leclerc has attributed his disappointing performance during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to the unpredictability of his Ferrari SF-26. Despite qualifying in second place, he was significantly outpaced by George Russell, who took pole position by a margin of eight and a half tenths of a second.
Leclerc noted that he struggled to maintain his usual precision and risk-taking ability due to the car's inconsistent behaviour, particularly in the tight and twisting sectors of the Baku City Circuit. He acknowledged that while Ferrari's straight-line speed had improved, the overall performance of the car hindered his strengths during qualifying.Fri 25 Sep · 16:30 UTCPage 2 of 91
