George Russell will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from a dominant pole position as Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli will only be 16th on the grid.
Russell has a prime opportunity to eat into Antonelli's 81-point lead in the standings following the Italian clipping the Turn 1 entry wall and sustaining damage during Q1.
Behind Russell, Charles Leclerc will be second for Ferrari ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri as Lando Norris is fifth.
On his return to Red Bull, Isack Hadjar was fourth, with Max Verstappen down in eighth, having not set a final lap due to yellow flags for Norris going off. Lewis Hamilton is sixth.
Elsewhere, the two Aston Martin drivers have taken multiple new engine components, triggering back-of-grid penalties, with Fernando Alonso actually out-qualifying both Cadillacs on the road, but he loses his 19th place for 22nd and last.
Further grid penalties were then handed out for Carlos Sainz (five places) and Sergio Perez (three places) for their respective yellow flag and impeding infringements, with Sainz's coming after having secured Williams' first Q3 slot of the season with ninth on the road.
NOTE: Grid remains provisional until officially confirmed by the FIA.
Full starting grid for 2026 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| POLE | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 2. | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 3. | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 4. | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull |
| 5. | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 6. | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 7. | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 8. | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 9. | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 10. | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 11. | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 12. | Alex Albon | Williams |
| 13. | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 14. | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 15. | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls |
| 16. | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 17. | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi |
| 18. | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi |
| 19. | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac |
| 20. | Sergio Perez - PENALTY | Cadillac |
| 21. | Lance Stroll - PENALTY | Aston Martin |
| 22. | Fernando Alonso - PENALTY | Aston Martin |
Also interesting:
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