News Summary
- Carlos Sainz drops from ninth to 14th after receiving a five-place penalty
- Sergio Pérez starts 20th after being punished for impeding Oscar Piastri
- Aston Martin’s power-unit penalties send Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso to the final row
The provisional Azerbaijan GP starting grid has been revised following penalties for Carlos Sainz, Sergio Pérez, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso.
Sainz originally qualified ninth but received a five-place grid drop for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags. The sanction promotes Franco Colapinto to ninth and moves Oliver Bearman into the top ten.
The Williams driver also received two penalty points, taking his total to four during the current 12-month period.
Sainz set fastest sector under yellow flags
Single yellow flags were displayed in consecutive marshalling sectors after Turn 2 and on the approach to Turn 3. Williams warned Sainz over the radio: “Yellow ahead, lift.”
Sainz argued that he intended to demonstrate an overall reduction in speed across the affected section. However, the stewards ruled that drivers must slow inside each individual yellow-flag sector.
Telemetry showed that Sainz reacted only in the second sector. The FIA also noted that he recorded his fastest time of the session in the first yellow-flag sector.
Pérez punished for impeding Piastri
Pérez received a three-place grid penalty after the stewards ruled that he unnecessarily impeded Oscar Piastri during qualifying.
The Cadillac driver was completing a preparation lap between Turns 19 and 20 when Piastri approached on a flying lap. Pérez was travelling at approximately 248km/h, while the McLaren was approaching at around 300km/h.
Piastri was forced to lift, although he told the stewards that the incident did not cost him significant lap time. Pérez had received two radio warnings that the McLaren was approaching.
Pérez falls behind Valtteri Bottas but remains ahead of the two Aston Martins because Stroll and Alonso carry larger power-unit penalties.
Aston Martin drivers sent to back of grid
Stroll received a 20-place grid penalty, while Alonso was handed a 25-place drop following changes to Honda power-unit components beyond their permitted seasonal allocations.
As neither sanction can be fully served from the drivers’ original qualifying positions, both move behind the rest of the field. Stroll starts 21st, with Alonso in 22nd.
George Russell remains on pole after beating Charles Leclerc by 0.837s in Azerbaijan GP qualifying.
Revised 2026 Azerbaijan GP starting grid
| Grid | Driver | Team/Engine | Best time | Gap | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G. RUSSELL | Mercedes | 1:42.526 | — | |
| 2 | C. LECLERC | Ferrari | 1:43.363 | +0.837 | |
| 3 | O. PIASTRI | McLaren/Mercedes | 1:43.364 | +0.838 | |
| 4 | I. HADJAR | Red Bull | 1:43.500 | +0.974 | |
| 5 | L. NORRIS | McLaren/Mercedes | 1:43.672 | +1.146 | |
| 6 | L. HAMILTON | Ferrari | 1:43.858 | +1.332 | |
| 7 | P. GASLY | Alpine | 1:44.047 | +1.521 | |
| 8 | M. VERSTAPPEN | Red Bull | 1:44.081 | +1.555 | |
| 9 | F. COLAPINTO | Alpine | 1:44.963 | +2.437 | |
| 10 | O. BEARMAN | Haas/Ferrari | 1:44.775 | +1.313* | |
| 11 | L. LAWSON | Racing Bulls | 1:44.860 | +1.398* | |
| 12 | A. ALBON | Williams/Mercedes | 1:45.001 | +1.539* | |
| 13 | E. OCON | Haas/Ferrari | 1:45.016 | +1.554* | |
| 14 | C. SAINZ | Williams/Mercedes | 1:44.566 | +2.040 | +5 |
| 15 | A. LINDBLAD | Racing Bulls | 1:45.106 | +1.644* | |
| 16 | K. ANTONELLI | Mercedes | 1:45.504 | +1.889** | |
| 17 | G. BORTOLETO | Audi | 1:45.799 | +2.184** | |
| 18 | N. HÜLKENBERG | Audi | 1:45.920 | +2.305** | |
| 19 | V. BOTTAS | Cadillac/Ferrari | 1:48.290 | +4.675** | |
| 20 | S. PÉREZ | Cadillac/Ferrari | 1:46.658 | +3.043** | +3 |
| 21 | L. STROLL | Aston Martin/Honda | 1:47.337 | +3.722** | +20 |
| 22 | F. ALONSO | Aston Martin/Honda | 1:46.593 | +2.978** | +25 |
* Gap from the fastest Q2 time: Russell’s 1:43.462.
** Gap from the fastest Q1 time: Russell’s 1:43.615.
The starting order remains provisional until the FIA publishes the official grid.
The Azerbaijan GP begins on Saturday at 12:00 UK time, 07:00 ET, 04:00 PT, 16:30 in India and 21:00 AEST.
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows every session of the Azerbaijan GP LIVE and in REAL TIME.
F1 today: FAQ
What time does the 2026 Azerbaijan GP start?
The race starts on Saturday, September 26, at 12:00 UK time. It begins at 07:00 ET and 04:00 PT in the US, 16:30 in India and 21:00 AEST in eastern Australia.
Who starts on pole for the Azerbaijan GP?
George Russell starts from pole for Mercedes, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri. Isack Hadjar qualified fourth, followed by Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
Why is the Azerbaijan GP being held on Saturday?
The race was moved to Saturday because Sunday, September 27, is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day, a national day of mourning. The entire F1 weekend was brought forward by one day.
Where will Carlos Sainz start the Azerbaijan GP?
Sainz is provisionally set to start 14th after receiving a five-place penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags.
