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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.comLando Norris Says Watching McLaren’s 1.5 Second Baku Deficit Felt Like a Knife in the HeartLando Norris expressed disappointment after McLaren finished 1.5 seconds behind the fastest time set by George Russell during the opening practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The team encountered issues with the floorboard of their upgraded MCL40, which required a temporary fix using cable ties, leading to lost track time for both Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Despite the challenges, McLaren's Chief Technical Officer Rob Marshall indicated that the new components installed on the car showed potential, although they still need to be optimised. Norris highlighted the need for improved pace, stating that comfort in the car means little without competitive lap times, as the team prepares for the next practice session.
Fri 25 Sep · 21:04 UTC
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 racer.comPiastri's third in Baku signals McLaren's progressOscar Piastri secured third place in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, indicating positive development for McLaren's performance. Team principal Andrea Stella noted that Piastri is adapting well to the MCL40, despite Lando Norris facing challenges during the session.
+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 18:46 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 F1iPiastri ‘surprised’ by Baku P3 qualifying paceOscar Piastri qualified third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, surprising himself with the pace after a subdued practice session for McLaren. Piastri briefly held second place during qualifying, while Lando Norris finished fifth after a costly lock-up on his final attempt. George Russell took pole position, with Charles Leclerc just ahead of Piastri by a narrow margin.
Piastri remarked on McLaren's tendency to find extra performance during qualifying, contrasting with their practice struggles. Norris, while pleased with his driving, pointed out underlying car issues that limited his performance. Both drivers are now looking to convert their qualifying positions into a strong race performance, despite uncertainties about their race pace.
Fri 25 Sep · 17:02 UTC
via RacingNews365Lando Norris calls for McLaren investigation after BakuLando Norris has urged McLaren to investigate a technical issue that affected his car's top speed during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying, where he finished fifth. Team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the concern regarding the car's performance compared to Mercedes.+ 3 moreFri 25 Sep · 16:10 UTC
via RacingNews365Sergio Perez receives grid penalty for Azerbaijan incidentThe FIA has imposed a grid penalty on Sergio Perez following an incident involving Oscar Piastri during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The penalty was confirmed after a stewards' investigation found that Perez had impeded Piastri.+ 3 moreFri 25 Sep · 15:29 UTC
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.
+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 15:15 UTC
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.
Fri 25 Sep · 15:05 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 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 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 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.+ 5 moreFri 25 Sep · 09:21 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.via newsonf1.comFornaroli unlikely as Haas decision nearsLeonardo Fornaroli remains a candidate for the Haas seat currently held by Esteban Ocon, but McLaren CEO Zak Brown indicates that the team expects him to continue in their reserve role. Haas has been evaluating several drivers, including Fornaroli, Rafael Camara, Ryo Hirakawa, and Jack Doohan, as they consider a potential change for the 2027 season.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu stated that an announcement regarding Ocon's future will be made soon, as they have completed evaluations of the candidates. Komatsu acknowledged that all tested drivers have performed well, highlighting the team's fortunate position of having multiple talented prospects to choose from.
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.
+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 06:30 UTC
via RacingNews365Radical McLaren upgrade targets its biggest weaknessMcLaren has made significant changes to the MCL40's sidepods ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, focusing on reducing aerodynamic drag, which has been a persistent issue for the team. The redesign includes a new squarer inlet shape and improved internal ducting, which enhances airflow management without compromising cooling efficiency.
This upgrade is crucial for drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as they compete in the constructors' championship. By addressing the drag deficit, McLaren hopes to close the gap to rivals like Ferrari and improve their performance in the remaining races of the season.Fri 25 Sep · 05:10 UTC
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.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 04:00 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.+ 1 moreThu 24 Sep · 18:15 UTCPage 5 of 29