The Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session was nothing short of chaos.
Six red flags, unpredictable weather, and plenty of mistakes kept fans on edge for nearly two hours.
Through the madness, one man delivered when it mattered most—Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull star mastered the wet conditions, stuck to the track like glue, and sealed pole position in a performance that screamed pure genius.
Verstappen Shines While Others Stumble
As the rain intensified, drivers struggled to keep their cars under control.
Lando Norris, tipped to be among the front-runners, couldn’t put a strong lap together and ended up down in eighth.
By contrast, Carlos Sainz in the Williams and Liam Lawson in the Racing Bulls took advantage, securing second and third place on the grid.
Behind them, Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and George Russell lined up, ready to challenge.
Norris Misses His Chance
Norris had a golden opportunity after his teammate Oscar Piastri crashed into the barriers at Turn Three.
With conditions worsening, it was his moment to strike—but the Brit couldn’t improve his time.
That slip means he not only starts lower down but also trails Piastri by 31 points in the championship with just eight races to go.
Ferrari’s Comedy of Errors
Over at Ferrari, it was another painful day. Charles Leclerc, known for his speed around city circuits and a four-time pole sitter in Baku, once again pushed too hard.
He was flying on the timing screens before sliding straight into the barriers at Turn 15.
The crash left the team red-faced and his car in desperate need of repairs.
Hamilton’s Struggles Continue
It was yet another disappointing outing for Lewis Hamilton.
Knocked out in Q2, the seven-time world champion qualified 12th, a full seven-tenths behind Leclerc at the point of elimination.
The sight of Hamilton trudging slowly back to the garage summed up his mood—his form is slipping, and questions are being asked about whether this is really the performance expected from a £60 million-a-year driver.
Albon and Others Trigger Early Chaos
The drama started as early as Q1 when Alex Albon brushed the wall at the very first corner, ending his session and triggering a red flag.
A tough blow, considering the promise he had shown in practice.
Nico Hulkenberg soon added to the list of incidents, losing control of his Sauber, while Franco Colapinto in the Alpine was responsible for yet another stoppage.
Red Flags Galore
By the time Ollie Bearman clipped the wall in Q2—causing the fourth red flag of the day—fans could have almost watched half of the Merseyside derby in between the delays.
Bearman, only 20, admitted his mistake over the radio but showed flashes of speed that prove his potential.
Still, he remains far from Verstappen’s level of consistency and brilliance.
Baku Signs On for the Future
Amid the chaos, one important piece of news emerged—Baku will remain a fixture on the Formula 1 calendar until 2030, thanks to a new deal.
It ensures more years of high-speed drama on one of the most unpredictable city circuits in the world.
A Day to Remember
From Verstappen’s brilliance to Ferrari’s misfortune and Hamilton’s struggles, qualifying in Baku had everything.
The grid is shaken up, surprises are everywhere, and Sunday’s 51-lap race promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in a season already packed with drama.