Baku, Azerbaijan – โฃMax Verstappen โsecured pole โposition in aโ highly turbulentโค qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on โSaturday, marked by a record โsix red flags.โ The race itself saw Verstappen claim โคvictory, while Oscar Piastriโฃ crashed his โMcLaren in the first lap, eliminating him from contention.
the unusual qualifying grid saw Carlos Sainz and Liam โขLawson (Racing Bulls) unexpectedly line up behind Verstappen.Several drivers expected โto challenge,including McLaren’s Lando Norris (starting 7th) and Charles โLeclerc (10th) along with Lewis Hamilton (12th) in the Ferrari,foundโ themselves further โback.
before the start, Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko stated, “the McLaren will โขbe,” referring to a potential challenge from the team, โค”but that โฃdepends onโข how to getโ through the field.” However,Piastri’s race was immediately compromised โขbyโ a โคfalse start,slowing himโค and dropping him to the back of the field before a subsequent crash ended his race early.
Leclerc overtook Norris โearly in the race, placing the McLaren driver between the two Ferraris. Verstappen quickly established aโข lead, extendingโค his advantage over Sainz to ten seconds. He completed his tire change without issue, while Norris experienced delays duringโ his pit stop, becoming embroiled โคin a battle with โขthe Ferraris in the midfield.