2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Russell pole, grid moves

George Russell took pole for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed in Q1, with penalties also reshaping the Baku grid.

George Russell took pole position for Mercedes for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with BBC Sport and Motorsport.com reporting that Charles Leclerc qualified second. Russell arrived in Baku second in the drivers' championship on 211 points, while Leclerc was fifth on 167. Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, on 292 points, crashed in Q1 and will start 16th, according to BBC Sport, Autosport and Motorsport.com.

The grid then changed after qualifying. Motorsport.com and RaceFans reported that Carlos Sainz received a five-place grid penalty for a yellow-flag infringement. Motorsport.com also reported that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were sent to the back of the grid after power unit component changes on their Aston Martin cars.

Formula1.com reported that Sergio Perez was also penalised after impeding Oscar Piastri in qualifying. That left Russell, a seven-time Formula 1 winner from 161 starts, on pole for Sunday in Baku with several rivals moved back from their original qualifying positions.