Verstappen leads the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Verstappen leads the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Race Day - LIVE UPDATES!

Live text commentary for the 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku

An exciting 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix awaits us following a chaotic qualifying session on Saturday.

There were six red flag stoppages in qualifying, resulting in a mixed up grid for today's race. Max Verstappen line ups on pole position ahead of Williams' Carlos Sainz and Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson.

Behind them is the two Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli ahead of George Russell. There's a lot of work to do at McLaren and Ferrari.

Lando Norris will start the race from seventh, while Oscar Piastri is ninth on the grid after his Q3 crash. Charles Leclerc starts from 10th; Lewis Hamilton in 12th.

Follow all of the action from the Baku City Circuit here with the Crash.net live blog 


 

21 Sep 2025
12:52
Antonelli up to eighth

He uses DRS to get ahead of Bortoleto, who has yet to stop.

12:52
Not too much happening currently

We're waiting to see a few more pit stops - or if it will rain. 

12:45
Lap 22/51

Antonelli breezes ahead of Lawson into Turn 1 for ninth. 

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12:45
The order on Lap 21/51

Verstappen, Sainz, Russell, Tsunoda, Norris, Hamilton, Hadjar, Bortoleto, Alonso, Lawson, Antonelli, Leclerc, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Bearman Ocon, Gasly, Albon and Colapinto. 

12:44
Lawson

Lawson pits and comes out just ahead of Antonelli. That's crucial for the RB driver's race. 

12:43
Penalty for Albon

A 10-second time penalty for Albon. Good decision from the stewards. 

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12:42
Leclerc also comes into the pit lane

Leclerc pits and rejoins 3.4s behind Antonelli. This releases Norris - so let's see if he has pace to unleash in his McLaren.

12:40
Antonelli pits

A tidy pit stop from Mercedes as Antonelli comes in for a fresh set of hard tyres. This will release Russell, who can attack Lawson now.

12:38
Contact

Albon spins Colapinto. Both drivers manage to keep going though. Looks to be clearly Albon's fault there. 

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12:37
Hamilton mistake

A big lock-up for Hamilton at Turn 7. He narrowly keeps it out of the barriers. 

He's now 3.0s behind Norris in eighth. 

12:35
Russell wants team orders

"I think I've got a tyre advantage to get past Lawson," Russell reports on team radio.

12:31
The full order on Lap 14

Verstappen, Sainz, Lawson, Antonelli, Russell, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Hadjar, Bortoleto, Alonso, Colpainto, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Bearman, Gasly, Albon and Ocon.

OUT: Piastri 

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12:27
Lap 11/51

Verstappen has opened up a 2.9s lead over Sainz, who is running 2.5s ahead of Lawson in third. 

12:24
Russell ahead of Tsunoda

Russell makes a good move on Tsunoda at Turn 3 after making the Red Bull driver go defensive into the first corner.

12:23
The order on Lap 9/51

Verstappen, Sainz, Lawson, Antonelli, Tsunoda, Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton and Hadjar.

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12:21
Hamilton on the move

Hamilton uses DRS to get ahead of Hadjar into Turn 1. Hamilton is now up to ninth. 

12:19
News from the stewards

A five-second time penalty for Alonso for jumping the start. 

12:19
The order on Lap 7/51

Verstappen is 1.4s clear of Sainz at the front of the field. 

Lawson, Antonelli, Tsunoda, Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Hadjar and Hamilton round out the top 10.

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12:17
A mistake from Hadjar

He runs wide at Turn 16 which allows Leclerc to get through. Hadjar then loses another place to Norris into Turn 1.

12:15
SC restart

Verstappen stays ahead of Sainz in the lead.

Norris has lost a position to Leclerc on the restart. 

12:14
Lap 5/51

The Safety Car is in and we're back racing in Azerbaijan. 

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12:13
Alonso

Alonso has also been noted for a "false start". He got caught out by Piastri ahead jumping it. 

12:13
Lap 4/51

Still under Safety Car conditions: Verstappen, Sainz, Lawson, Antonelli, Russell, Tsunoda, Hadjar, Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Brotoleto, Stroll, Bearman, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Albon and Ocon.


 

12:08
Piastri

Replays show Piastri initially jumping the start. He tried to rectify that, which is why he dropped to the back of the grid. 

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12:07
Order under the Safety Car

Verstappen, Sainz, Lawson, Antonelli, Russell, Tsunoda, Hadjar, Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Brotoleto, Stroll, Bearman, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Ocon and Albon.