Verstappen takes Baku pole in record six red-flag qualifier

Verstappen Takes Pole in Chaotic Azerbaijan GP Qualifying with Record Six Red Flags

Max Verstappen mastered a chaotic and rain-affected qualifying session to secure pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, edging out Carlos Sainz of Williams after an astonishing six red flags disrupted proceedings in Baku.

The marathon session—spanning nearly two hours—set a Formula 1 record for most red flags during qualifying, surpassing previous highs at Imola (2022) and São Paulo (2024). A combination of strong winds, light rain, and unforgiving street circuit conditions made this one of the most unpredictable qualifiers in recent memory.

McLaren Miss Big Opportunity

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Championship contenders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity after both struggled when it mattered most.

• Piastri, second in the standings, crashed at Turn 3 during Q3 and will start ninth.

• Norris, trailing by 31 points, had a poor final lap and only managed seventh, despite Piastri’s exit gifting him a chance to gain championship ground.

“I tried to go out early in case of another crash but the track was worse,” Norris admitted. “I made a mistake and paid the price.”

Red Flag Mayhem: How the Crashes Happened

1. Alex Albon (Williams) – First red flag at Turn 1, hit the inside wall.

2. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – Second red flag at Turn 4, heavy impact.

3. Pierre Gasly & Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – Third red flag, both drivers ran off at Turn 4.

4. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – Fourth red flag, crashed at Turn 2 in Q2.

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – Fifth red flag, slid into the barrier at Turn 15 in Q3.

6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – Sixth red flag, hit the wall at Turn 3 minutes later.

Rain began to fall during Q3, and the slippery surface contributed to both Leclerc and Piastri’s incidents. The final restart gave Verstappen a narrow window, and he delivered with a lap that beat Sainz to pole.

Top 10 Qualifiers – Azerbaijan GP 2025

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

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. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

9. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

10. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

Penalties & Fallout

• Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), fastest in Friday practice, will start 12th after a tyre strategy error in Q2. He criticised the team’s decision not to use mediums, calling it a “big shock”.

• Esteban Ocon (Haas) was disqualified after his rear wing failed deflection tests. He will start from the pit lane.

Verstappen Reacts

“You just have to send it on the last lap,” Verstappen said. “We ran out of ideal tyres but got the job done.”

This is Verstappen’s fourth pole of the season and comes at a crucial time as he tries to claw back a 96-point gap to championship leader Piastri.

What to Expect in the Race

With a mixed grid and multiple top drivers out of position, Sunday’s race is set to be explosive:

• Can Verstappen hold off Sainz and Lawson on lap one?

• Will Norris and Piastri recover for crucial points?

• Can Hamilton mount a comeback from P12?

And with Red Bull now closing in on the constructors’ leaders McLaren, the pressure is on.