News Summary
- George Russell took Azerbaijan GP pole by a commanding 0.837s
- Charles Leclerc beat Oscar Piastri by just 0.001s for the front row
- Championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashed at Turn 1 and could not participate in Q2
George Russell produced one of the most dominant qualifying laps of the 2026 Formula 1 season to secure pole position for the Azerbaijan GP on Friday.
The Mercedes driver finished 0.837s ahead of Charles Leclerc, converting the pace displayed throughout practice into his first pole since the Austrian GP in June.
Oscar Piastri missed the front row by only 0.001s, placing his McLaren third. Isack Hadjar completed an impressive session in fourth for Red Bull, ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
Russell turns Baku advantage into crushing pole
Russell had led both Thursday practice sessions before Max Verstappen narrowly beat him in FP3. Mercedes nevertheless remained the qualifying favourite, and Russell delivered when the track reached its fastest condition in Q3.
His margin was enormous by modern F1 standards. Leclerc finished more than eight-tenths behind, while every other driver was separated from Russell by at least 0.838s.
The result delivered Russell his first pole since Austria, where he also defeated Leclerc. It also placed the Briton in the strongest possible position to reduce Kimi Antonelli’s 81-point championship lead.
Only three previous races in Baku have been won from pole, but four winners have started from the front row.
Leclerc edges Piastri by 0.001s
Leclerc secured second with a lap only 0.001s faster than Piastri, preserving Ferrari’s strong qualifying record on the streets of Baku.
Norris could manage only fifth in the second McLaren, finishing 1.146s behind Russell. The result represented some recovery after Norris described McLaren’s 1.5-second practice deficit as “a little knife in the heart”, but the reigning champion remained more than three-tenths behind Piastri.
Hamilton qualified sixth in the second Ferrari, followed by Pierre Gasly, Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto.
Hadjar was one of the session’s standout performers. The Red Bull driver returned from injury in Azerbaijan and immediately qualified fourth, beating Norris, Hamilton and team-mate Verstappen.
Antonelli crashes and misses Q2
Antonelli’s qualifying ended when he hit the wall at Turn 1 during Q1, damaging the front-left suspension of his Mercedes.
His existing lap was quick enough to advance, but the car could not be repaired in time for Q2. Antonelli therefore took no further part and is provisionally classified 15th, subject to the final grid and any penalties.
The accident gives Russell a significant opportunity to reduce the championship deficit. Antonelli arrived in Baku with 292 points, 81 more than his Mercedes team-mate.
Audi also endured its first double Q1 elimination as a Formula 1 constructor, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg both failing to advance.
2026 Azerbaijan GP qualifying results
| Pos. | Driver | Team/Engine | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G. RUSSELL | Mercedes | 1:42.526 | — |
| 2 | C. LECLERC | Ferrari | 1:43.363 | +0.837s |
| 3 | O. PIASTRI | McLaren/Mercedes | 1:43.364 | +0.838s |
| 4 | I. HADJAR | Red Bull/Ford | 1:43.500 | +0.974s |
| 5 | L. NORRIS | McLaren/Mercedes | 1:43.672 | +1.146s |
| 6 | L. HAMILTON | Ferrari | 1:43.858 | +1.332s |
| 7 | P. GASLY | Alpine/Mercedes | 1:44.047 | +1.521s |
| 8 | M. VERSTAPPEN | Red Bull/Ford | 1:44.081 | +1.555s |
| 9 | C. SAINZ | Williams/Mercedes | 1:44.566 | +2.040s |
| 10 | F. COLAPINTO | Alpine/Mercedes | 1:44.963 | +2.437s |
| 11 | O. BEARMAN | Haas/Ferrari | 1:44.775¹ | +2.249s |
| 12 | L. LAWSON | Racing Bulls/Ford | 1:44.860¹ | +2.334s |
| 13 | A. ALBON | Williams/Mercedes | 1:45.001¹ | +2.475s |
| 14 | E. OCON | Haas/Ferrari | 1:45.016¹ | +2.490s |
| 15 | A. LINDBLAD | Racing Bulls/Ford | 1:45.106¹ | +2.580s |
| 16 | K. ANTONELLI | Mercedes | 1:45.504² | +2.978s |
| 17 | G. BORTOLETO | Audi | 1:45.799² | +3.273s |
| 18 | N. HÜLKENBERG | Audi | 1:45.920² | +3.394s |
| 19 | F. ALONSO | Aston Martin/Honda | 1:46.593² | +4.067s |
| 20 | S. PÉREZ | Cadillac/Ferrari | 1:46.658² | +4.132s |
| 21 | L. STROLL | Aston Martin/Honda | 1:47.337² | +4.811s |
| 22 | V. BOTTAS | Cadillac/Ferrari | 1:48.290² | +5.764s |
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows every session of the Azerbaijan GP LIVE and in REAL TIME.
F1 today: FAQ
Who took pole position for the 2026 Azerbaijan GP?
George Russell secured pole for Mercedes, finishing 0.837s ahead of Charles Leclerc.
What happened to Kimi Antonelli in Baku qualifying?
Antonelli hit the Turn 1 wall during Q1 and damaged his Mercedes suspension. He advanced on time but could not participate in Q2.
