Russell takes Azerbaijan GP pole as Antonelli crashes out

George Russell produced a dominant performance in Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying, topping all three sessions to secure pole position at the Baku City Circuit. The Mercedes driver set the pace throughout and will start Sunday’s race from the front of the grid.

Leclerc Takes Second

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified second, finishing 0.837 seconds behind Russell. Oscar Piastri completed the top three for McLaren, missing out on second place by just 0.001 seconds.

Antonelli Crashes in Q1

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli suffered a major setback when he hit the wall at Turn 1 during Q1. The Mercedes driver was unable to continue and was eliminated from qualifying, meaning he will start the race from 16th position.

Russell Seizes Advantage

Antonelli’s early exit gives Russell an important opportunity as the championship battle continues. Russell had already shown strong pace in Baku by topping both Thursday practice sessions before carrying that form into qualifying.

Norris and Hamilton in Top 10

Isack Hadjar qualified fourth, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in fifth. Lewis Hamilton will start sixth for Ferrari, followed by Pierre Gasly, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto to complete the top 10.

Baku Race Awaits

Russell and Leclerc will lead the field away when the Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place on Saturday. Antonelli will face a difficult recovery from 16th as he attempts to protect his championship lead. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is the 15th round of the 2026 Formula One season.