George Russell Takes Baku Pole as Liam Lawson Qualifies 11th

Lawson Frustrated by Qualifying Pace and Traffic in Baku

The Racing Bulls driver admitted his car lacked outright speed during the weekend. Lawson stated after the session that the team had been slow, though they managed to make a step up for qualifying.

“The lap was really good up until turn 16,” Lawson said. “I just had no tow as well. I tried to start close to Max, but his out lap was too quick. By the end of the lap he’d pulled away.”

Lawson initially secured 12th place on the timesheets. He received a one-spot promotion to 11th after Williams driver Carlos Sainz collected a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags.

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The event marks Lawson’s return to his regular Racing Bulls seat following a three-race stint filling in for the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull, where he managed to score 14 points. While Lawson expressed excitement about returning to his own car, he acknowledged that readjusting after nearly a month driving a vastly different Red Bull machine proved challenging.

Racing Bulls remains locked in an intense constructors’ championship battle for fifth place against Alpine. Lawson will push to convert his grid spot into championship points during the race.

Russell Secures Pole After Antonelli Crashes

Mercedes driver George Russell claimed pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashed into the wall during the Friday qualifying session.

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With Antonelli sidelined, Russell capitalized on the long straights of the Baku circuit—which favor the Mercedes engine design—to finish nearly a second clear of the rest of the field. It marks Russell’s first pole position since the Austrian Grand Prix in June, which also stands as his last race victory.

“When I crossed the line and I saw the gap, I was shocked. I knew the lap was great,” Russell said.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc finished second, sitting 0.837 seconds off Russell’s pace. Oscar Piastri took third-fastest for McLaren, finishing just 0.001 seconds behind Leclerc. Piastri’s strong result followed a chaotic practice session where McLaren mechanics used cable ties to secure bodywork components on his car.

Isack Hadjar placed fourth for Red Bull in his return from injury. Further down the order, McLaren’s Lando Norris managed only fifth, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton took sixth, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen struggled to eighth.

Antonelli’s Crash and Grid Position

Kimi Antonelli enters Saturday’s race facing an uphill battle from 16th on the grid. The 20-year-old championship leader clipped the wall during the first segment of qualifying, sustaining heavy damage to his car’s wheel and suspension.

Although team radio instructions urged Antonelli to stop on track due to the severity of the damage rather than attempting to limp back to the pits, his prior lap time had already done enough to advance him into Q2. However, the extent of the damage prevented him from participating further.

Antonelli maintains an 81-point lead over teammate Russell in the drivers’ standings. Russell warned against writing off his young teammate, pointing to Antonelli’s victory from 19th on the grid at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Liam Lawson starting on the grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Liam Lawson will start 11th on the grid after being promoted one spot following a penalty for Carlos Sainz.

Who secured pole position for the race in Baku?

Mercedes driver George Russell claimed pole position after setting a lap nearly a second faster than the rest of the field.

What happened to Kimi Antonelli in qualifying?

Kimi Antonelli clipped the wall during Q1, damaging his wheel and suspension and forcing him out of the session. He is set to start 16th.

When does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix take place?

The race is scheduled for Saturday at 11pm NZT.