Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026: Russell on pole
George Russell took pole for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit on 26 September 2026, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.
George Russell took pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit on 26 September 2026, beating Charles Leclerc by 0.837s. The Mercedes driver set a 1:42.526 lap in Q3, while Oscar Piastri qualified third for McLaren just 0.001s behind Leclerc.
Qualifying
Russell led the session at round 15 with a 1:43.615 in Q1, a 1:43.462 in Q2 and a 1:42.526 in Q3 for Mercedes. Leclerc put Ferrari second with a 1:43.363 in Q3 after laps of 1:44.360 in Q1 and 1:43.780 in Q2.
Piastri took third for McLaren with a 1:43.364 in Q3, following a 1:45.014 in Q1 and a 1:43.814 in Q2. Isack Hadjar qualified fourth for Red Bull on 1:43.500, with Lando Norris fifth for McLaren on 1:43.672 and Lewis Hamilton sixth for Ferrari on 1:43.858.
Grid
Pierre Gasly secured seventh for Alpine F1 Team with a 1:44.047 in Q3, ahead of Max Verstappen in eighth for Red Bull on 1:44.081. Carlos Sainz placed ninth for Williams with a 1:44.566, and Franco Colapinto completed the top 10 for Alpine F1 Team with a 1:44.963.
The top 10 grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was Russell for Mercedes, Leclerc for Ferrari, Piastri for McLaren, Hadjar for Red Bull, Norris for McLaren, Hamilton for Ferrari, Gasly for Alpine F1 Team, Verstappen for Red Bull, Sainz for Williams and Colapinto for Alpine F1 Team.
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