Max Verstappen Secures Pole in Dramatic Qualifying Session

Verstappen takes Pole in chaotic Azerbaijan GP qualifying

Max Verstappen claims pole position in thrilling Azerbaijan GP qualifying, while Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc crash out.

“I honestly thought I was going to be shooting for pole today, so it’s kind of a bit of a shock...” 

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, edging out Carlos Sainz by nearly half a second. The Red Bull driver delivered a stunning lap, showcasing his exceptional skills. This impressive performance puts pressure on McLaren, who struggled in qualifying despite leading the constructors' championship.

The chaotic qualifying session saw a record six red flags due to crashes, including incidents involving Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc. Piastri, the championship leader, crashed in Q3, leaving him ninth on the grid, while Leclerc's crash prevented him from setting a lap time.

MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES POLE IN BAKU!!! 🤩#F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/ZSI9KdVqg9

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 20, 2025

McLaren's Challenge:

McLaren faces an uphill battle on Sunday, with Oscar Piastri starting ninth and Lando Norris seventh. Despite the setback, McLaren can clinch the constructors' title if they outscore Ferrari by nine points. The team's performance in the race will be crucial in determining the championship outcome.

Oscar Piastri's Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session was marked by a shocking crash, leaving him ninth on the grid without setting a time in the final phase. The Australian driver, who has had a remarkably error-free campaign so far, admitted that winning might be ambitious but remains optimistic about the car's performance. “I think the win is ambitious but let's wait and see,” Piastri said. “The car has been quick this weekend and hopefully we can use that to make progress.”

Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris, had a close call during qualifying, brushing the wall and missing a chance to put more distance between himself and Piastri in the championship standings. Despite this, Norris remains competitive, and the McLaren team looks to capitalize on their car's speed to make progress in the race.

Verstappen Secures Pole Despite Challenges

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, describing the qualifying session as “very difficult.” Verstappen's final lap was 0.478 seconds quicker than Carlos Sainz, who qualified second. “In the final lap, you just have to send it,” Verstappen said. “I wasn’t even on the best tyres that I wanted - because of all the red flags you basically run out of tyres.”

The session was marked by multiple red flags, including a crash for Charles Leclerc, who had been bidding for a fifth successive Baku pole. Leclerc's car speared into the barriers on a track made slippery by rain, preventing him from setting a competitive lap time.

 

Just a normal few weeks for Max Verstappen 👏 pic.twitter.com/QaBC5o3W7r

— Autosport (@autosport) September 20, 2025

The final phase of qualifying took a dramatic turn when only three drivers, led by Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson, had set a time before the session was disrupted. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton qualified a disappointing 12th, a stark contrast to the optimism following his fastest time on Friday. “I honestly thought I was going to be shooting for pole today, so it’s kind of a bit of a shock,” Hamilton admitted, expressing his surprise at the unexpected outcome.

Hamilton's teammate, Charles Leclerc, had an even tougher session, crashing and failing to set a time. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso also struggled, qualifying 11th. The disappointing results for Ferrari and Aston Martin left them hoping for a better outcome in the race.

Turbulent First Phase of Qualifying

The first phase of qualifying was marked by chaos, with three separate stoppages due to crashes. Alex Albon's Williams made contact with the wall, while Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber suffered significant damage after smashing into the barriers at turn four, ripping off the front wing and floor. The phase ended with Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto crashing his Alpine heavily in the closing seconds, causing further delays due to barrier repairs before the start of Q2.

The incidents significantly disrupted the flow of the session, forcing drivers to navigate the challenging track conditions while dealing with the uncertainty of red flags and changing grip levels. Despite the challenges, some drivers managed to progress to the next phase, setting the stage for an intense Q2 session.

Nico Hulkenberg's crash at turn four triggered a red flag with six minutes and 36 seconds remaining in the first phase, adding pressure to Kimi Antonelli, who hadn't set a time yet. Hulkenberg's incident wasn't isolated, as both Alpines, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, and Oliver Bearman also failed to advance.

The second phase was disrupted when Oliver Bearman crashed into the wall, bringing out the red flag with nearly 12 minutes left. “Sorry guys, so stupid,” Bearman radioed, confirming the car was “broken.” This wasn't the only stoppage, as Charles Leclerc's crash later caused another interruption, followed by Oscar Piastri's incident, which triggered the red flags with 3:41 remaining.

Qualifying Results:

• Max Verstappen: secured pole position with a time of 1m41.117s, his second consecutive pole after Monza

• Carlos Sainz: qualified second for Williams, just 0.478s behind Verstappen

• Liam Lawson: surprised many with a third-place start for Racing Bulls

• Kimi Antonelli: fourth, forming an all-rookie second row

• Lando Norris: seventh, 31 points behind Piastri in the championship standings

Qualifying Highlights:

Max Verstappen: Clinched pole position with a lap time 0.478 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz.

Chaotic Session: Multiple red flags disrupted qualifying, impacting drivers' strategies and tyre choices.

Leclerc's Disappointment: Charles Leclerc's crash ended his chances of securing pole position.