F1 2025 | Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying Recap: Max Verstappen holds his own in a chaotic Baku qualifying session

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen kept his nerve and cool in a Red Flags galore qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 to take pole position while Carlos Sainz handed Williams a front-row start for the first time since Belgian Grand Prix 2021. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson finished a stellar third in qualifying in a session that saw Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc crash out while Lando Norris also hit the wall to qualify a low P7.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 saw a record six Red Flags come out as the drivers were unable to keep their cars out of the barriers in the twisty and tight corners in Baku amidst the high-speed straights. With Ferrari and McLaren on the backfoot, Verstappen has given Red Bull the upper hand going into Sunday once again.

If you missed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 qualifying, here’s a quick recap. 

Q1 – Chaotic session ends with Alpines suffering double exit

The Ferrari’s held the early advantage in Q1 as Lewis Hamilton went quickest with his teammate, Charles Leclerc in P3 with the McLaren of Lando Norris sandwiched between them. Williams’ Alex Albon started the series with a string of crashes for the session with Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg also crashing on resumption from the Red Flag although Albon couldn’t resume his session unlike the German. Nico Hülkenberg’s crash brought out the second Red Flag of the session with a little over six minutes to go.

The session resumed with six minutes to go and all 20 cars came out on track to improve their times. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli also got his first time on board, which saw him go from the bottom of the table to P6 while his teammate, George Russell went quickest for a short time before Lando Norris’ 1:41.322s saw him go top with Verstappen finishing 0.009s behind the McLaren driver. As the chequered flag fell, both the Sauber’s had a moment, bringing out the Red Flag again that saw both Alpines, Alex Albon’s Williams and Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg failing to get out of Q1.

Drivers eliminated in Q1:

Franco Colapinto

Nico Hülkenberg

Esteban Ocon

Pierre Gasly

Alex Albon

Q2 – Ferraris struggle as Verstappen finds pace

Isack Hadjar’s off-track adventures brought out the Yellow Flag for a short period early on to get Q2 underway. The session got another stoppage as Haas’ Oliver Bearman crashed into the wall which brought out the Red Flag once again and ended Bearman’s session. Carlos Sainz put in the quickest time early on with a 1:41.675s before Lando Norris set the benchmark with a 1:41.396s, 0.59s quicker than his teammate.

Leclerc was the big name in the drop zone, after having a couple of off-track moments which saw him without a time for the longest time but the Ferrari man put in a strong lap to go make the top 6. His teammate, Lewis Hamitlon failed to make it to the final top 10 shootout though, as the seven-time world champion finished P12. Verstappen at the very end, topped the session with a 1:41.255s. 

Drivers eliminated in Q2:

Yuki Tsunoda

Lewis Hamilton

Gabriel Bortoleto

Lance Stroll

Ollie Bearman

Q3 – Verstappen on pole as Red Flags out again

Williams’ Carlos Sainz set the benchmark early on in Q3 with a 1:41.595s before the qualifying session saw its fifth Red Flag as Charles Leclerc crashed into the barriers, ending his session and pausing qualifying once again. The session resumed with seven minutes to go and seven of the ten drivers not having set any time yet. 

The session had barely resumed as the Red Flag made another appearance, this time for Oscar Piastri, who was in the wall with the remaining seven drivers still yet to set a time. The session resumed with just under four minutes left with Lando Norris brushing the wall, which put him in P5 with Max Verstappen stealing pole at the very end with a stunning 1:41.117s. Sainz finished second, 0.478s behind while Liam Lawson finished a career best P3 ahead of both Mercedes’ and the McLarens. Norris finished P7 eventually two spots ahead of his teammate. 

Starting grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 (before penalties applied):

1. Max Verstappen

2. Carlos Sainz

3. Liam Lawson

4. Kimi Antonelli

5. George Russell

6. Yuki Tsunoda

7. Lando Norris

8. Isack Hadjar

9. Oscar Piastri

10. Charles Leclerc

11. Yuki Tsunoda

12. Lewis Hamilton

13. Gabriel Bortoleto

14. Lance Stroll

15. Ollie Bearman

16. Franco Colapinto

17. Nico Hülkenberg

18. Esteban Ocon

19. Pierre Gasly

20. Alex Albon