Norris misses chance as Verstappen takes pole in wild Baku qualifying

Norris misses chance as Verstappen takes pole in wild Baku qualifying

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session delivered historic chaos on Saturday, with six crashes, six red flags, and a qualifying that ran double its normal length. While Max Verstappen emerged with pole, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri—his closest title rivals—were left to rue missed opportunities.

Record-Breaking Chaos in Baku

Baku’s tight corners and long straights are infamous, but this weekend’s qualifying broke a Formula 1 record with six red flags, more than any session in the sport’s history. Gusting winds, variable grip, cold track temperatures, and even light rain contributed to a minefield of conditions that caught out six drivers, including Norris and Piastri.

Alex Albon initiated the chain of crashes at Turn 1. Nico Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, Charles Leclerc, and Piastri all joined the casualty list.

Norris described Turn 4 as “one of the worst corners I’ve ever driven in my life,” blaming unpredictable tailwinds and varying grip for the treacherous conditions.

Piastri Crashes, Norris Blows Pole Shot

Lando Norris was able to complete his final flying lap, despite hitting the wall

Championship leader Oscar Piastri looked poised to start ahead of Norris until he lost control at Turn 3, slamming the wall in Q3. The crash opened the door for Norris—trailing Piastri by 31 points—to capitalize.

But Norris couldn’t convert. Despite being in contention for pole, the Brit made multiple small errors and ultimately hit the wall at Turn 15, though he was able to complete the lap. The result? Seventh on the grid, one place ahead of Piastri.

“I still did everything I could,” said Norris, blaming a mistimed run at the start of the final Q3 segment. “We thought going out early was the better call… but then it started spitting [rain] again, and we got the worst of it.”

Ferrari Flop Again

Ferrari entered the weekend hopeful, especially with Leclerc holding pole at Baku for the past four years. But Saturday turned into another strategic mess.

Leclerc struggled to heat up the medium tyres in Q2 and later crashed in Q3 at Turn 15. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, failed to even make it out of Q2, starting 12th after Ferrari’s bizarre tyre allocation left him short on fresh rubber.

Hamilton said:

“We should have used a medium in Q2. I don’t know why we didn’t. That’s something we’ll review internally.”

Grid and Race Outlook

Charles Leclerc said normally “everything flows” around Baku, but that was not the case in qualifying

Starting Grid – Top 10:

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

3. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

5. George Russell (Mercedes)

6. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

7. Lando Norris (McLaren)

8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

9. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

With Verstappen on pole and both McLarens buried in the midfield, Red Bull’s title threat is very much alive—despite the Dutchman being 96 points behind Piastri.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella didn’t mince words:

“Is Verstappen still a championship threat? A firm YES. In capital letters.”

To clinch the Constructors’ Championship this weekend, McLaren must:

• Outscore Ferrari by 9 points

• Avoid being outscored by Mercedes by 12

• Avoid being outscored by Red Bull by 33

What seemed a sure thing on Friday now looks far from guaranteed.

What to Expect in the Race

With cars out of position and a volatile grid, Sunday’s Azerbaijan GP could deliver another classic Baku thriller.

• Will McLaren mount a charge through the field?

• Can Ferrari recover from another strategic own goal?

• Is this Verstappen’s championship comeback moment?

Whatever the answers, one thing is certain: chaos is never far away in Baku.