Max Verstappen Overtakes Sainz Amid Six Red Flags in Baku Qualifying

BAKU, Azerbaijan — Max Verstappen narrowly claimed pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, denying Carlos Sainz in a chaotic qualifying session filled with six red flags. The unusual number of stoppages created a dramatic backdrop to the event, leading to the final order being heavily influenced by late-breaking incidents.

The session, which took place on Saturday, saw Oscar Piastri—current Drivers’ Championship leader—crash out, forcing him to start the race from ninth position. Verstappen’s best lap time of 1 minute, 41.117 seconds came as conditions rapidly changed due to rain, impacting several drivers’ performances.

As qualifying began, Charles Leclerc set a quick early pace but miscalculated his turn at Turn 15 and hit the barrier, resulting in the first red flag. The track was then opened again, but as drivers tried to set times, Piastri’s crash at Turn 3 caused another stoppage with less than four minutes remaining on the clock.

With the session resuming, Verstappen and Sainz were both aiming for front-row starts amid challenging conditions. Verstappen managed to edge out Sainz by 0.478 seconds, while Liam Lawson of AlphaTauri secured third place. “Long qualifying, to be honest, with so many red flags!” Verstappen said after the session. “It was difficult to get your lap together because most of the time your tyres are not really ready.”

Behind Verstappen, Sainz expressed satisfaction with his lap, stating, “Honestly, we have nailed the qualifying today.” Lawson’s lap secured him a solid starting position ahead of the Mercedes duo comprising Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

The session was far from straightforward, with Lewis Hamilton eliminated in Q2 after struggling with his pace. The British driver had previously shown promise in practice but found himself starting from 12th on the grid. His struggles reflected Ferrari’s challenges, with Leclerc’s earlier mishap being particularly frustrating.

In Q1, multiple crashes led to red flags that disrupted the rhythm, further complicating track conditions. All drivers were eager to clock in strong laps, but the unpredictable nature of Baku proved challenging. The dramatic qualifying session lasted longer than last year’s entire Grand Prix, showcasing the intensity and unpredictability that defines Formula 1 racing.

Looking ahead, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set to take place on Sunday at 1500 local time. Fans are eager to see how the unpredictable grid positions will influence the race.