Verstappen claims chaotic pole for Azerbaijan GP

Sep 20, 2025

F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan - Qualifying — BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 20: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 20, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Steven Tee/LAT Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202509200328 // Usage for editorial use only //

Max Verstappen secured his first pole position ever at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku leading Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson.

Intermittent drizzling rain scuppered qualifying for Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri as they put their cars in the wall leaving Carlos Sainz on provisional pole. This left a big opportunity for Lando Norris to make the most of Oscar’s plight but he couldn’t execute on his final lap leaving him down in P7.

Lando needed this opportunity but now he starts just a row ahead of Oscar. Lando’s inability to take pole means the biggest battle for the race could be watching both McLaren’s try to move forward while battling between them.

Azerbaijan GP Qualifying Results:

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	Q1	Q2	Q3	LAPS
1	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	1:41.331	1:41.255	1:41.117	23
2	55	Carlos Sainz	Williams	1:42.635	1:41.675	1:41.595	23
3	30	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	1:42.257	1:41.537	1:41.707	26
4	12	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	1:42.247	1:41.464	1:41.717	21
5	63	George Russell	Mercedes	1:41.646	1:41.455	1:42.070	22
6	22	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull Racing	1:42.347	1:41.788	1:42.143	23
7	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:41.322	1:41.396	1:42.239	21
8	6	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	1:41.656	1:41.647	1:42.372	25
9	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:41.839	1:41.414	DNF	18
10	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:41.458	1:41.519	DNF	19
11	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:42.211	1:41.857		18
12	44	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	1:41.821	1:42.183		17
13	5	Gabriel Bortoleto	Kick Sauber	1:42.511	1:42.277		16
14	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1:42.101	1:43.061		16
15	87	Oliver Bearman	Haas	1:42.666	DNF		11
16	43	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	1:42.779			8
17	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Kick Sauber	1:42.916			8
18	31	Esteban Ocon	Haas	1:43.004			9
19	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:43.139			8
20	23	Alexander Albon	Williams	1:43.778			4
Note – Ocon was disqualified from Qualifying for a technical infringement.