2026 Azerbaijan GP: Antonelli to start 16th

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start 16th in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a Q1 crash in Baku, while Mercedes team-mate George Russell took pole.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start 16th for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after crashing in Q1 at Baku. BBC Sport, Autosport, Motorsport.com and RaceFans reported that the Mercedes driver hit the inside wall at Turn 1 on his second flying lap, which ended his qualifying session.

Those outlets also reported that George Russell took pole position for Mercedes, with Charles Leclerc second. Antonelli heads into the race as the drivers' championship leader on 292 points, so the grid setback comes at a key point in the season.

The Italian is in his second Formula 1 season with Mercedes and has 33 entries, five wins, five pole positions and 10 podiums across 2025 and 2026. BBC Sport and RaceFans reported that Antonelli said he was angry with himself after the incident.