Charles Leclerc congratulated Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver secured pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday at the Baku City Circuit. Verstappen delivered a remarkable lap, clinching his first-ever pole at this venue, while Leclerc crashed out and ended his qualifying session prematurely.
Verstappen’s Dominant Pole Lap Amid a Chaotic Qualifying
During the final qualifying session, Verstappen recorded a time of 1:41.117, almost half a second faster than Carlos Sainz, who qualified second. This outstanding performance earned Verstappen the top starting spot for the race, marking a significant achievement at Baku where Leclerc had previously claimed pole four times between 2021 and 2024.
After the session, Leclerc approached Verstappen, along with Liam Lawson and Sainz, to shake hands as the three drivers took their places on the front row of the grid. This moment of sportsmanship was captured in a video shared by Red Bull Racing on Instagram, illustrating Leclerc’s recognition of Verstappen’s impressive lap.
Saturday’s qualifying was tumultuous, featuring six red flags caused by multiple drivers losing control and crashing. Among those affected were Alex Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri, and Leclerc himself. Despite these disruptions, Verstappen managed to secure pole, followed by Sainz in P2 and Lawson in an impressive third place, ahead of Kimi Antonelli.
George Russell, Antonelli’s teammate, qualified fifth, just ahead of Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda. Lando Norris narrowly avoided further trouble, brushing a wall on his last flying lap to finish seventh, while Isack Hadjar took eighth. Both Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc crashed during the final session and had to settle for ninth and tenth, respectively.
Leclerc’s Frustration After Crashing in Qualifying
Leclerc’s hopes for a strong qualifying ended abruptly when he locked up on his final flying lap in Q3 and hit the barriers. This incident halted his progress and placed him tenth on the grid. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the session, Leclerc expressed his struggles throughout the weekend in Baku and the difficulties faced during qualifying.
“I have struggled massively throughout the weekend which is not the case before in Baku. Changed massively for Qualifying and the feeling got better but as soon as we have put Mediums it was very very difficult to put the tyres into the right temperatures.”
— Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Currently, Leclerc stands fifth in the Drivers’ Championship with 163 points after 16 races and three sprint events, a position ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who holds sixth with 117 points.
The Broader Competitive Landscape at Baku
The qualifying session reflected the intense competition and challenging track conditions at the Baku City Circuit. Multiple drivers struggled with grip and control, contributing to the frequent red flags and reshuffling of grid positions. Verstappen’s ability to deliver a near-flawless lap despite these conditions underlines his skill and Red Bull’s strong car performance.
Meanwhile, emerging talents like Liam Lawson demonstrated their potential by securing a podium starting spot ahead of more experienced drivers, highlighting the unpredictable and fiercely contested nature of the Azerbaijan GP.
What This Means for the Race Ahead
Verstappen’s pole position at Baku sets the stage for a heated and closely fought race on Sunday, with top contenders like Sainz and Lawson aiming to challenge his advantage. For Leclerc, recovering from a difficult qualifying round will be crucial if he hopes to capitalize on his championship standing. His ability to bounce back from this setback will be watched closely by fans and analysts alike.
The chaotic qualifying sessions suggest the race could be equally dramatic, with numerous drivers having already demonstrated the precarious balance between pushing limits and encountering trouble on this demanding street circuit. Verstappen’s triumph in qualifying, combined with Leclerc’s determination to overcome adversity, encapsulates the intense spirit driving this season’s championship battle.
