2026 Azerbaijan GP: Russell on pole, Antonelli out

George Russell took pole for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed in Q1, with later penalties changing the grid.

George Russell took pole position for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with BBC Sport and RaceFans reporting that the Mercedes driver beat Charles Leclerc in Baku. His team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the drivers’ championship leader on 292 points, crashed in Q1 after hitting the wall at Turn 1 and is set to start 16th, according to BBC Sport, Autosport and Motorsport.com. Russell arrived in Baku second in the standings on 211 points.

Formula1.com reported that Oscar Piastri will line up on the second row after McLaren improved through qualifying, while Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto both reached Q3 for Alpine. BBC Sport described it as a split result for Mercedes after Russell secured pole and Antonelli exited in the first segment.

The grid changed further after the session. Formula1.com and Motorsport.com reported that Carlos Sainz received a five-place penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags in qualifying, while Sergio Perez was penalised for impeding Piastri. Motorsport.com also reported that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were sent to the back of the grid after multiple power unit component changes.