Max Verstappen is on pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after coming out on top in a chaotic, incident-packed qualifying session on the streets of Baku.
The reigning world champion snatched the fastest lap at the culmination of a wild session that lasted for almost two hours and was red-flagged a record six times, with world championship leader Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc among those who crashed out.
Piastri will start way down in ninth place and Norris seventh, with Verstappen joined on the front row of the grid by Williams’ Carlos Sainz. Liam Lawson will begin third for Racing Bulls, ahead of the Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Drama and entertainment is almost guaranteed at one of the trickiest circuits to be found anywhere on the F1 calendar, where last year Piastri delivered only his second-ever career victory in a remarkable finish to an absorbing race that also saw Norris edge out title rival Verstappen after a late crash involving Sergio Perez and Sainz.
It was an inauspicious start for the McLaren duo on Friday ahead of the latest chapter in their engrossing championship tussle, with both drivers hitting the wall in the second practice session and damaging their cars as Ferrari showcased their own potential with an impressive early one-two led by Lewis Hamilton, though that optimism was quickly washed away in qualifying as Leclerc crashed and Hamilton failed to reach Q3.
It’s round 17 of the campaign in Baku, with Piastri currently sitting 31 points clear of Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings with only eight races remaining following a team orders controversy at the Italian Grand Prix a fortnight ago, in which McLaren told Piastri to let Norris pass late on following a slow pit stop as the latter finished second behind the victorious Verstappen at Monza.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 start time
The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place at the Baku City Circuit on Sunday, September 21.
The race is scheduled to start at 12pm BST, which is 3pm local time.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 grid order
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. Ollie Bearman, Haas
16. Franco Colapinto, Alpine
17. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
18. Esteban Ocon, Haas
19. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
20. Alex Albon, Williams
How to watch Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025
TV channel: Every session from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is available to watch live in the UK on Sky Sports F1.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch every session from Baku live online via the Sky Go app.
Free highlights: Channel 4 will show free-to-air highlights of the race from 5:30pm BST on Sunday evening.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 weather forecast
Some wet and windy weather is making things rather chaotic in Baku this weekend.
The forecast for Sunday is currently for light rain and wind, with a high temperature of around 21 degrees.
