Russell took Azerbaijan pole with 0.837-second qualifying edge
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 25, 2026
Russell’s qualifying edge
George Russell took pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku with a lap of 1:42.526. Charles Leclerc qualified second, 0.837 seconds behind, while Oscar Piastri took third and Lando Norris qualified fifth. It was Russell’s fifth pole of the season and his first since the Austrian Grand Prix.
McLaren pace
McLaren brought a major upgrade package to Baku and was still trying to understand it after a disrupted Friday. Piastri said McLaren had “no hope” of beating Russell to pole, while Norris called the pace “pretty pants” and “miles off.” Those comments captured McLaren’s assessment of its qualifying performance.
Antonelli crash
Kimi Antonelli crashed at Turn 1 in Q1 and was eliminated. He will start 16th on the grid.
