If chaos had a name, it would be Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying, which smashed F1 records with a whopping six red flags and plenty of drama along the way. Verstappen’s flawless final effort saw him clock a 1:41.117 lap to deny Carlos Sainz a shock Williams front-row start by almost half a second. But this wasn’t just about the top spot; the whole session was peppered with crashes, rain, and nail-biting uncertainty that kept everyone on the edge.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying Recap
Max Verstappen showed once again why he’s the king of the Baku City Circuit, bagging pole position in an absolutely crazy Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying.
From the get-go, the narrow streets of Baku lived up to their reputation. The qualifying was a staggering two hours long, heavily interrupted by crashes from big names and rookies alike. Alex Albon kicked off the red flag madness in Q1 when he clipped the barrier at Turn 1, followed shortly by Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto piling into the walls.
Alpine’s Colapinto’s crash was brutal enough to raise serious questions about his seat for next season. The interruptions didn’t stop there. Q2 saw Oliver Bearman smash his Haas into the barriers, forcing another pause, while Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri both brought out red flags in Q3 itself, with Piastri’s crash at Turn 3 coming with less than four minutes left, instantly ending his chances for a flying lap.
Carlos Sainz was the biggest headline at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying apart from Verstappen. Driving for Williams, he crafted a stunning lap to threaten the top spot and ultimately secured an impressive second place on the grid. It’s been a rollercoaster year for Sainz, who, after losing his Ferrari seat, has been on a mission to prove that he belongs at the sharp end. This front-row lockout is a massive statement not only for him but for Williams, who has struggled for consistency for years. Sainz’s teammate Alex Albon, despite flashes of pace in practice, unfortunately ended up 20th due to that early crash.
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson continued to make waves by claiming a career-best third place, showing that his gun driving and calm nerves in tough conditions have earned him a shot at the big leagues. He starts right alongside Mercedes rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli in P4, with veteran George Russell slotting in just behind in fifth, demonstrating Mercedes’ steady pace but still chasing those top podium spots. Yuki Tsunoda had his best qualifying run with Red Bull yet at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying, taking sixth ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, who both struggled to find clean laps amid the chaos.
Oscar Piastri, who’s been the championship leader all season, had a nightmare ending to his Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying bid. His crash not only brought out a record-breaking sixth red flag but also dropped him to a disappointing ninth on the grid. His teammate Norris managed seventh but couldn’t capitalise fully on Piastri’s mistake, leaving the two McLaren drivers having their work cut out for them this Sunday.
Ferrari’s day went downhill quickly. Charles Leclerc, a usual Baku front-runner with four straight poles here, crashed early in Q3, ending his chance for yet another front-row start. His teammate Lewis Hamilton, despite topping practice times on Friday, never found his rhythm and exited in Q2, starting down in 12th place. Clearly, the Scuderia have a lot to think about overnight.
So, what does all this mean for the race? Verstappen will lead the charge, no doubt looking to extend his championship lead and continue his dominance in this season of thrills and spills. But with Baku’s tight streets, those quick qualifiers like Sainz and Lawson could shake things up on race day. Plus, with McLaren’s title hopes hanging in the balance, expect fireworks from Norris and Piastri as they claw through the pack.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying Results
| POS. | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:41.331 | 1:41.255 | 1:41.117 | 23 |
| 2 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:42.635 | 1:41.675 | 1:41.595 | 23 |
| 3 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:42.257 | 1:41.537 | 1:41.707 | 26 |
| 4 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:42.247 | 1:41.464 | 1:41.717 | 21 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:41.646 | 1:41.455 | 1:42.070 | 22 |
| 6 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | 1:42.347 | 1:41.788 | 1:42.143 | 23 |
| 7 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:41.322 | 1:41.396 | 1:42.239 | 21 |
| 8 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:41.656 | 1:41.647 | 1:42.372 | 25 |
| 9 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:41.839 | 1:41.414 | DNF | 18 |
| 10 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:41.458 | 1:41.519 | DNF | 19 |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:42.211 | 1:41.857 | 18 | |
| 12 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:41.821 | 1:42.183 | 17 | |
| 13 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | 1:42.511 | 1:42.277 | 16 | |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:42.101 | 1:43.061 | 16 | |
| 15 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:42.666 | DNF | 11 | |
| 16 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:42.779 | 8 | ||
| 17 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | 1:42.916 | 8 | ||
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:43.004 | 9 | ||
| 19 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:43.139 | 8 | ||
| 20 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:43.778 | 4 |
Also read: Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 FP3 Full Recap And Results
