Max Verstappen set the fastest time. © APA/afp / OZAN KOSE

Accidents & Red Flags: Verstappen's crazy pole in Baku

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen secured pole position in a chaotic and accident-ridden qualifying session in Baku on Saturday.

September 20, 2025

From: dpa

The Dutch Red Bull driver will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday (13.00 p.m.) from the front of the grid for the first time, followed by sensational Williams driver Carlos Sainz and Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. World Championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed in his McLaren, as did Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

"Unbelievable, it was such a difficult qualifying session with the red flags," Verstappen radioed to the pits after the almost two-hour qualifying session, overjoyed. For the four-time champion, it was his second consecutive pole position after Monza. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli finished fourth ahead of his teammate George Russell. Yuki Tsunoda put the second Red Bull in sixth place, while McLaren driver Lando Norris, who had been fast in practice, could only manage seventh.

Last year's winner, Piastri, misjudged the final lap and crashed his McLaren heavily into the barriers. Shortly before, Leclerc, who had recently taken pole position four times in a row in Baku, also crashed his car into the barriers. Piastri will therefore start the race from ninth place, just ahead of Leclerc. Teammate and record world champion Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, gambled in Q2 and had to settle for twelfth place. However, starting position isn't as relevant in the often chaotic race on the sometimes tight street circuit compared to other tracks. Leclerc was never able to convert his pole position in Azerbaijan's capital into a Grand Prix victory.

Six Red Flags

The drivers struggled in gusty conditions in the "City of Winds" on the Caspian Sea. In the first session, Alexander Albon, Nico Hülkenberg, and Franco Colapinto each brought out a red flag. Albon destroyed the front suspension of his Williams car with a collision in the first corner, Hülkenberg demolished the front wing of his Sauber, and Colapinto spun his Alpine into the wall. In Q2, Haas driver Oliver Bearman caused the next interruption, before Leclerc and Piastri also destroyed their cars.


Going into the 17th of 24 races of the season, Piastri holds a 31-point lead in the World Championship duel with Norris. On Sunday, McLaren also has its first match point in the Constructors' Championship. The Papaya team is 337 points ahead of Ferrari and needs to score at least nine more points than the Scuderia to secure its first title. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar until 2030; the premier class of motorsport announced the early four-year extension on Saturday.