Sports
Russell takes Azerbaijan GP pole as championship leader Antonelli crashes in qualifying
September 25, 2026 at 03:00 PM · Updated 21d ago
Coverage
6 reports · over 4 hours
BNBBC News
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli says qualifying crash 'a good way to come back to earth'
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ESESPN
George Russell 'shocked' by Azerbaijan GP pole: 'The biggest margin in my whole career'
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TGThe Guardian
Kimi Antonelli hits wall as George Russell takes F1 Azerbaijan GP pole
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BNBBC News
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Russell takes pole as Antonelli out after hitting wall
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ESESPN
Mercedes' George Russell takes thrilling pole for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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ESESPN
Kimi Antonelli hits wall and suffers early exit from Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying
(opens the publisher’s site)George Russell claimed pole for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Mercedes teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashed out of the first session in Baku.
- Antonelli hit the wall at Turn 1 in Q1, breaking his car's suspension, and will start Saturday's race from 16th on the grid.
- Russell secured pole by 0.837 seconds over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, his fifth pole of the season and first since the Austrian Grand Prix.
- Russell said the margin was "probably the biggest margin I've had in my whole career" and that his car "has been feeling great all weekend."
- Antonelli, who leads Russell by 81 points, won at Monza earlier this month from 19th on the grid.
- The 0.837-second gap was the largest between the top two qualifiers since the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix.
- Russell said he was 'shocked' by the margin and downplayed suggestions that his pole could mark a title-battle turning point.
- Antonelli called his qualifying crash 'stupid' and 'a good way to come back to earth.'
- Antonelli said a hydraulic leak in practice had limited his track time ahead of the crash.