F1 NEWS: Azerbaijan GP qualifying results: Leclerc storms to pole as Norris suffers…read more
Azerbaijan GP qualifying results: Leclerc storms to pole as Norris suffers…read more
Charles Leclerc dominated Saturday’s qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, claiming pole position with a remarkable performance. In contrast, it was a day to forget for Lando Norris, who endured a challenging session and will start Sunday’s race from a disappointing 17th place on the grid. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion and favorite for the title, also struggled, managing only the sixth-fastest time.
The early stages of the weekend had seen a fierce battle between the top teams, with nothing separating them in the final practice session (FP3). As qualifying began, it was clear that the fight for pole would be intense. However, surprises quickly unfolded as Williams, Haas, and Alpine drivers found themselves in the top seven positions after Q1, setting the stage for an unpredictable session.
At the other end of the order, disaster struck for Lando Norris. The McLaren driver, who had been expected to perform well, was forced to abandon his flying lap after Esteban Ocon triggered yellow flags by going off track. This incident left Norris unable to improve his time, and he ended up in 17th place, meaning a challenging race lies ahead for him. McLaren’s engineers issued an apology over the team radio, but it did little to lift Norris’s spirits after such a frustrating outcome.
As the session progressed, Verstappen made a strong comeback in Q2, clocking the fastest lap of the segment. Yet, the spotlight was stolen by Franco Colapinto, who put in a stunning performance. The Williams driver posted a time four-tenths quicker than his teammate Alex Albon, securing sixth place on the grid. His remarkable result saw him finish ahead of some big names, including McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Haas debutant Oliver Bearman was left disappointed after a promising start. The young Brit outqualified his more experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg but found himself pushed down into the bottom five when Fernando Alonso put in a strong lap. Bearman’s final position of 11th meant he narrowly missed out on a spot in Q3. Several other drivers also failed to make it into the top 10, including Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly, and Lance Stroll, all of whom will start further down the order than they had hoped.
As Q3 got underway, a brief scare occurred in the pit lane when Alex Albon had to manually remove the airbox on his car, which had been causing an obstruction. Fortunately, this issue didn’t delay the final runs, and the remaining drivers were free to set their best times. Despite the pressure, nobody could come close to Charles Leclerc’s pace. The Ferrari driver had been in a league of his own all day, and his final lap confirmed his dominance as he stormed to pole position.
Leclerc’s performance was nothing short of impressive, and it was his third pole of the season. Behind him, Oscar Piastri delivered a standout performance for McLaren, securing a second-place start on the grid, ahead of Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz, who will start in third. Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull claimed fourth, with George Russell of Mercedes completing the top five.
Max Verstappen, despite his strong Q2 performance, could only manage sixth in the final session, while his Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton will line up in seventh. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso will start eighth, with Williams rookie Franco Colapinto producing one of the day’s standout results by securing ninth place, just ahead of his teammate Alex Albon in tenth.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying results have set the stage for an exciting race on Sunday, with Leclerc aiming to convert his pole position into victory. However, the mixed-up grid, with key contenders like Norris and Verstappen starting further back, suggests that there could be plenty of action and drama on race day.
Full Qualifying Results:
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
9. Franco Colapinto (Williams)
10. Alex Albon (William)
11. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
12. Yuki Tsunoda (VCARB)
13. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
14. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
15. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
16. Daniel Ricciardo (VCARB)
17. Lando Norris (McLaren)
18. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)
19. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)
20. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
With the front of the grid loaded with top talent and several high-profile drivers starting
from lowly positions, fans can expect an unpredictable and thrilling race in Baku.
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