Baku, Azerbaijan – September 20, 2025: Max Verstappen claimed his sixth pole position of the 2025 Formula 1 season with a flawless lap in a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session that was red-flagged six times. The Red Bull star beat Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson in a dramatic finale at the Baku City Circuit.

The session saw multiple crashes and interruptions, with championship leader Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc both hitting the barriers. Early on, Leclerc set the pace with a 1:41.982, only for Alex Albon’s crash to trigger the first of many stoppages. Incidents involving Nico Hülkenberg, Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, and Oliver Bearman followed, leaving the field constantly disrupted.

When Q3 finally resumed after Piastri’s heavy crash, the stage was set for a one-lap shootout. Lando Norris faltered with a mistake at Turn 15, but Verstappen kept his cool, delivering a brilliant 1:41.117 to secure pole.

Sainz stunned with P2 for Williams, while Lawson celebrated his first career top-three start in Formula 1. Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell followed in P4 and P5, with Yuki Tsunoda taking a career-best P6 for Red Bull.

The grid promises fireworks for Sunday’s race, with title contenders Piastri and Leclerc starting from the back after failing to set times.

2025 F1 Azerbaijan GP Qualifying – Top 10:

1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 1:41.117
2. Carlos Sainz – Williams – +0.478s
3. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls – +0.590s
4. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – +0.600s
5. George Russell – Mercedes – +0.953s
6. Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull – +1.026s
7. Lando Norris – McLaren – +1.122s
8. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls – +1.255s
9. Oscar Piastri – McLaren – No Time
10. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – No Time

With Verstappen back on pole and rivals out of position, the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set for an explosive showdown.