Mercedes driver George Russell secured pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku Street Circuit, clocking a lap time of 1:42.526 during Friday’s qualifying session. According to track reports, Russell finished nearly nine tenths of a second ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, establishing a commanding advantage on the 2-kilometer straight and tight layout.
Russell Dominates Friday Qualifying in Baku
Friday’s afternoon qualifying session at Baku brought immediate drama as teams faced gusting winds and a dusty track surface with an asphalt temperature hovering around 40°C. Russell capitalized on the Mercedes’ outright speed to outpace the field. Charles Leclerc managed second place for Ferrari, a position that limits damage for the Monegasque driver who holds the record for the most pole positions at this venue with four. Leclerc fought hard through the tight corners, but the pace of the Mercedes proved untouchable.
Pro Tip: Baku features a straight of over two kilometers, paired with a slow, ultra-tight section measuring less than eight meters wide. Finding the right aerodynamic compromise between high straight-line speed and low-speed agility is crucial for race day.
Antonelli’s Early Crash and McLaren’s Mixed Fortunes
The sole driver with a realistic chance to challenge Russell early on was Kimi Antonelli, whose session ended abruptly just minutes into Q1. Antonelli misjudged Turn 1, clipping the internal barrier with his front-left wheel and heavily damaging his suspension. He was forced to park in a escape lane. Although a previous lap time carried him through to Q2, the young Italian could not participate further and settled for 16th on the grid. Mercedes had proactively replaced Antonelli’s power unit ahead of the day’s running following issues in Free Practice 1, though the unit had been unlocked previously, sparing him grid penalties.
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Behind the front row, Oscar Piastri recovered form to take third place for McLaren. His teammate, Lando Norris, struggled on his final push lap after blowing a braking zone. Norris’s mistake triggered a yellow flag that interrupted Max Verstappen’s flying lap, relegating Norris to fifth and Verstappen to eighth place behind their respective teammates.
Midfield Battles and Alpine Success
Isack Hadjar made a strong return in fourth place for Red Bull after missing three weekends due to a wrist injury. Sixth place went to Lewis Hamilton, while Alpine celebrated a double Q3 appearance with Franco Colapinto finishing tenth and Pierre Gasly seventh. Williams also showed marked progress after bringing a radically lightened car to Baku, resulting in Carlos Sainz claiming ninth place. Meanwhile, Haas driver Oliver Bearman missed the top ten by a whisker in 11th, and both Audi, Cadillac, and Aston Martin cars exited early in Q1.
Did you know? Because of a local holiday, the government of Azerbaijan requested and received approval to shift the entire race weekend forward by one day. Consequently, the Grand Prix takes place on Saturday, September 26, at 13:00 Italian time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix race?
The race starts on Saturday, September 26, at 13:00 Italian time, moved forward a day due to local holiday schedules.
Who won pole position for the Baku GP?
George Russell claimed pole position for Mercedes with a lap time of 1:42.526.
What happened to Kimi Antonelli in qualifying?
Antonelli hit the Turn 1 internal barrier during Q1, damaging his front-left suspension and preventing him from running in Q2, leaving him 16th on the grid.
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