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Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025: Verstappen Takes Pole as Chaos Leaves Grid Shaken
The stage is set for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a dramatic and unpredictable qualifying session at the Baku City Circuit. The FIA has confirmed the provisional starting grid, though not without controversy, as one driver was disqualified from the session.
At the sharp end of the grid, it was business as usual for Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion delivered a blistering lap, securing pole position by nearly half a second—a dominant margin on a street track as punishing as Baku. His pace underscored Red Bull’s strength and left the rest of the field scrambling to keep up.
Sainz Shocks with Front Row Start
The bigger surprise came just behind Verstappen. Carlos Sainz produced one of his strongest qualifying performances of the season, putting his Williams on the front row in second place. His lap was perfectly timed in a session punctuated by constant red flags. Liam Lawson, continuing to impress in his Racing Bulls seat, claimed third and will line up right behind Verstappen and Sainz when the lights go out.
Red Flags and Crashes Dominate Qualifying
The qualifying session itself was one of the most chaotic in recent memory, with no fewer than six red flag stoppages across Q1, Q2, and Q3—a new record for Formula 1. The narrow, winding layout of the Baku track once again lived up to its reputation as a circuit that punishes even the smallest of mistakes.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri was one of the victims of the circuit’s tight walls. The McLaren driver crashed in Q3 and could do no better than ninth on the grid. It marks a significant setback for the Australian, who holds the lead in the drivers’ standings but now faces the challenge of carving his way through the midfield on race day. His teammate and closest championship rival, Lando Norris, will also have ground to make up after qualifying seventh.
Ferrari endured their own share of frustration. Charles Leclerc crashed out during his flying run, though he still managed to secure 10th on the grid. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, could not match his teammate’s pace, leaving him to start from 12th in what has been a difficult debut season with Ferrari.
Ocon Disqualified, Grid Shaken
The biggest shock of the day came from Haas driver Esteban Ocon, who was disqualified from the session. The details behind the disqualification have not yet been fully disclosed, but Haas were forced to appeal to the stewards for permission to allow him to start the race at all. The team’s request was granted, meaning Ocon will take to the grid on Sunday but from the very back.
A High-Stakes Race Ahead
With Verstappen once again starting from pole, he will be the favorite to convert his pace into victory. However, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for producing unpredictable results, with safety cars, crashes, and dramatic incidents regularly reshuffling the order. For McLaren, the challenge will be damage limitation for both Piastri and Norris, as they look to stay in the hunt for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
Meanwhile, Williams will be eyeing a potential upset with Sainz starting alongside Verstappen, while Lawson has a golden chance to fight for a podium from third. Ferrari, on the other hand, will be hoping simply to keep both cars out of the walls and salvage solid points after a difficult Saturday.
As the grid lines up, one thing is certain: if qualifying was anything to go by, Sunday’s race in Baku promises drama, unpredictability, and potentially championship-shaping consequences.
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