Qualifying in Baku had crashes, mayhem, a sprinkling of rain and a record number of red flags, and through it all serenely floated Max Verstappen to take a 46th pole position and a sixth of 2025.
Behind him… chaos. Both McLarens hit the wall, as did Charles Leclerc, giving the grid a decidedly unfamiliar look.
Carlos Sainz lines up on the front row for the first time in Williams colours, just ahead of Liam Lawson in P3. Lando Norris is down in P7, but he does, at least, have the glass-half-full satisfaction of starting ahead of his championship rival – and for him, Oscar Piastri and Leclerc and the rest, there are some intriguing strategy options for race day…
%20(3).webp?ssl=1 "Isack Hadjar on Red Bull, the daunting second seat next to Max Verstappen and faith in his ability")
.webp?ssl=1 "The state of play at McLaren after three rounds of the 2026 season")
.webp?ssl=1 "The state of play at Haas after three rounds of the 2026 season")
