Max Verstappen claims pole in chaotic qualifying for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
20th September 2025Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has sealed pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand prix, in a dramatic qualifying session, as McLaren’s championship leader, Oscar Piastri, crashed.
Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool
Verstappen has clinched pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and will start the 51-lap race ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz who sealed Williams’ first front-row start since 2017.
Amongst the chaos, Racing Bull’s Liam Lawson edged out the two Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, respectively, to round out the top three.
It was a dramatic qualifying session on the streets of Baku, Azerbaijan, as Formula 1 endured six red-flag stops across all three thirds. In turn, it sets a new record for the most red flag stops in qualifying with six.
The record was once held by both the Emilia-Romagna and Sao Paulo Grand Prix, in 2022 and 2024, respectively, where five red flags in a single qualifying session were recorded.
Piastri was the big name who endured an early finish in qualifying after the Australian slammed into the barrier at turn three, bringing out the sixth red flag stop.
As such, the championship leader will start the session in ninth, whereas his teammate Lando Norris will start seventh after a troubled end to qualifying.
It puts a spanner in the works for McLaren, who have a chance of securing the world constructors’ championship this weekend.
The first red flag was brought out in Q1 when Williams’ Alexander Albon touched the inside barrier at turn one and damaged his car. It was followed by incidents from Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who brought out the second and third red flags.
Haas’ Oliver Bearman brought out the fourth red flag at the beginning of Q2 after he touched the wall on the exit of turn two, the only red flag in the second third.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc brought out the fifth red flag after he collided with the barrier at turn 15, in the first runs of Q3, before Piastri’s incident.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Lewis Hamilton tops FP2 at Azerbaijan Grand Prix leading Ferrari 1-2
- Lando Norris fastest in lengthy red-flagged FP1 at Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- Oliver Bearman will ‘take into account’ his points ahead of Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- ‘What happened is done’ says Oscar Piastri after Italian GP team orders
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix: the schedule and timings
- F1 reveal sprint calendar with one iconic venue absent
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