Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Who starts where with penalties applied?

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole position, alongside Williams’ Carlos Sainz, and here’s how the grid lines up. 

Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool

It was a chaotic qualifying session to line up the grid for the Azerbaijan GP, which saw a record number of red flags in a single session, with six, surpassing the five set in the 2022 Emilia-Romagna and 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

There was trouble for the McLaren drivers, who will start the race in seventh and ninth, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, respectively. 

Norris couldn’t put in a competitive time to compete against Verstappen in his final run, whilst Piastri found the barrier at turn three and retired from the event in Q3

Additionally, a disqualification occurred further down the grid. Haas’ Esteban Ocon failed scrutineering after qualifying, failing ‘the rear wing main plane tip deflection test,’ and was subsequently disqualified.

Haas has requested permission for Ocon to start the Azerbaijan GP, which the Stewards have approved. 

Max Verstappen claims pole in chaotic qualifying for Azerbaijan Grand Prix

So, how does the grid line up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
2. Carlos Sainz, Williams
3. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
4. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
5. George Russell, Mercedes
6. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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, Kick Sauber
14. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
15. Oliver Bearman, Haas
16. Franco Colapinto, Alpine
17. Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber
18. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
19. Alexander Albon, Williams
20. Esteban Ocon, Haas* 

* Esteban Ocon disqualified from qualifying.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Max Verstappen claims pole in chaotic qualifying for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
• 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

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.