Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 F1 Qualifying Highlights: Verstappen Takes Baku Pole As Sainz Joins Front Row

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And we’re off! Qualifying is underway in Baku, and wow, it’s blustery out there. The wind is whipping through the streets, trees bending like they’re auditioning for a dance-off. Drivers are cautiously tiptoeing out, knowing any gust could spell disaster on these tight, twisty streets.

Buckle up, Q1 promises some nervy laps and maybe a few surprises.

Charles Leclerc storms to the top of the timesheets with a slick 1:41.982 on the red softs. Lando Norris slots in second, but keep in mind he’s on the medium tyres, so the fight is far from over. Meanwhile, a yellow flag is out, Alex Albon seems to have stirred things up, bringing a brief pause to the chaos. The tension in Baku is real.

Charles Leclerc is holding firm at the top with his 1:41.982 on used softs. Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri are all sticking to mediums, while Antonelli, Lawson, and Russell are venturing out on fresh medium tyres. Seems like mediums are the flavour of the hour in Baku, softs are taking a back seat for now.

Hold everything, a red flag stops the action! Nico Hülkenberg has kissed the barriers at turn four, bringing Q1 to a screeching halt. Just before the drama, Piastri had set a lap faster than Leclerc, but now it’s Lewis Hamilton sitting pretty at the top. Ferrari looked strong in practice, but the session’s throwing up surprises left and right.

And we’re back. Q1 is rolling again with 6:36 on the clock. Antonelli’s struggling a bit, a cheeky tailwind gust just nudged him off line, and he’s the only driver yet to post a lap time. Every second counts now as the clock ticks down in Baku.

• 16th - Franco Colapinto

• 17th - Nico Hulkenberg

• 18th - Esteban Ocon

• 19th - Pierre Gasly

• 20th - Alex Albon

Q1 wraps up in true Baku style m,essy and dramatic! Lando Norris sneaks past Verstappen by a mere 0.009s, but the headlines are all about the carnage. Three drivers kissed the barriers and are out, Gasly limped off after a scare, and Ocon struggled for pace, though we might get clarity on whether yellow flags ruined any of his laps. Baku didn’t disappoint.

And we’re off again. Q2 kicks off for 15 intense minutes, slicing the field from 15 drivers down to the final 10. Early drama already, Isack Hadjar finds himself in the same run-off that caught Gasly in Q1. Buckle up, this session’s shaping up to be another wild ride.

Lando Norris blasts to the top with a 1:41.396, just ahead of George Russell by 0.059s. Piastri sits third, but he’s 0.240s off his teammate despite fresher rubber. Mercedes are looking strong in these cooler Baku conditions, and Antonelli swaps into third for a brief moment, just 0.076s shy of his teammate, the battle is tight.

• 11th - Fernando Alonso

• 12th - Lewis Hamilton

• 13th - Gabriel Bortoleto

• 14th - Lance Stroll

• 15th - Ollie Bearman

As Q2 wraps up, Max Verstappen takes the top spot, while Yuki Tsunoda just manages to sneak through, his Red Bull narrowly edging out Fernando Alonso. Lance Stroll and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto are among those eliminated, adding to the drama.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s session falls flat, the Ferrari driver had a promising weekend so far, but running out of time to improve leaves him heading to the pits, set to start 12th on the grid tomorrow.

And we’re live in Q3! The fight for pole is officially on as the top 10 take to the track. Lance Stroll, who missed out in Q2, reported a nasty tailwind that didn’t help his chances, while Antonelli faces the stewards over a yellow-flag infringement from Q1. The tension is electric, every lap counts.

Red flags fly as a light drizzle hits Baku, and it’s Charles Leclerc who’s found the wall at Turn 15. Ferrari’s day just keeps getting worse, with their star driver’s hopes for pole suddenly smashed against the barriers. Drama at every corner today.

We’re back on in Baku! Q3 gets going again after the delay, with just over five minutes left on the clock. Both McLarens hit the track on brand-new softs, ready to throw everything at this chaotic qualifying session.

Unbelievable scenes in Baku, Oscar Piastri slams into the wall, ripping off his front-right corner. He’s out of the car and thankfully okay, but could this be a huge Championship twist? That shunt brings out a sixth red flag, the most ever in qualifying. Records aside, the real story is the Aussie overcooking it into the corner, and here’s the kicker: no one managed to set a time before the stoppage.

Max Verstappen emerges on top after a wild, stop-start qualifying session in Baku, snatching pole position with relief written all over him. Carlos Sainz lines up alongside him on the front row, while Liam Lawson takes an impressive third and Kimi Antonelli grabs fourth.

George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda will share the third row, and Lando Norris, after all the chaos, has to settle for seventh on the grid.

What a day for Max Verstappen. He claims his first career pole in Baku and his sixth of the season overall, a truly impressive display of speed and composure amid the chaos.

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

3. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

5. George Russell (Mercedes)

6. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

7. Lando Norris (McLaren)

8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

9. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

10. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

12. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

13. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

15. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

16. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

17. Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber)

18. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

19. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

20. Alex Albo (Williams)

And that’s it from our qualifying coverage, what a chaotic, red-flag-filled rollercoaster. We’ll be back with another live blog for the race itself, see you all tomorrow. Until then, bye bye.