13:20
Norris makes a big improvement to sixth ahead of team-mate Piastri. But he is really, really struggling here and could be at risk of a Q2 exit.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2026 Azerbaijan GP
© XPB Images
F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying reaction after Antonelli crash
Live updates from FP3 and qualifying at the 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Russell takes Baku pole
- Antonelli is out of qualifying after crash
- Russell fastest in Q1 and Q2
The 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix continues on Friday with final practice and qualifying at the Baku street circuit.
Mercedes driver George Russell led both practice sessions on Thursday in Azerbaijan, as he looks to close down an 81-point deficit to his team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the championship standings.
It was a harder day for Antonelli, who suffered a hydraulics issue in FP1 and missed crucial track time. Despite this, he was able to finish second overall at the end of FP2.
Mercedes looks to be the team to beat at Baku, with McLaren's Lando Norris offering a particularly glum outlook for himself and his upgraded car after finishing sixth at the end of FP2.
Just under 1.5s from Russell's best time, Norris said his lack of pace was like "a knife in the heart".
Red Bull looks competitive, with Max Verstappen third on Thursday, though it will need to make a step if it has any hope of catching up to Mercedes.
Ferrari was in the mix in fourth and fifth at the end of practice yesterday, though it doesn't yet look like being able to get in on the pole battle coming up later today.
Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad comes into the second day of the Azerbaijan weekend having crashed in FP2 at the castle section. His shunt brought out a brief red flag.
The Briton did something similar in Madrid, and it ultimately curtailed what was shaping up to be a strong weekend.
Further back, Aston Martin faces a combined 45-place grid penalty for its drivers after taking on various new power unit components for this weekend. But Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finished at the back of the field anyway at the end of FP2.
Friday Azerbaijan GP schedule
FP3 - 9:30am BST - 10:30am BST
Qualifying - 1pm BST - 2pm BST
25 Sep 2026
13:20
Antonelli's crash
Antonelli clipped the wall on the inside of Turn 1 as he opened up a lap. He's done too much damage to continue.
13:19
Verstappen improves to take over top spot with a 1m44.041s and leads a Red Bull 1-2.
13:18
Leclerc pops up to third in the Ferrari.
13:17
Antonelli won't start last on the grid, as he's currently seventh. But he's likely to start 16th.
13:16
Norris is only 12th after this lap. He says there's something wrong with his car.
13:16
But Verstappen is only 0.002s down on Russell. This feels like game on for pole later on in Q3.
13:15
Russell, meanwhile, has gone fastest with a 1m44.277s.
13:15
Antonelli out of qualifying
Huge drama!
Championship leader Antonelli is out of qualifying!
13:14
Antonelli hits a wall
Kimi Antonelli says he has hit a wall on this lap. He's still going round but he's damaged his front left wheel!
13:13
The bottom six so far:
- Hulkenberg
- Gasly
- Alonso
- Bottas
- Stroll
- Albon
13:13
With nine minutes to go in Q1:
- Hadjar
- Hamilton
- Piastri
- Verstappen
- Leclerc
- Antonelli
- Colapinto
- Norris
- Russell
- Sainz
13:12
That 1m44.702s is quite a bit faster than Hadjar managed in FP3.
13:11
Hamilton up to second in the Ferrari.
13:11
"The front locking is terrible," complains Russell on the radio.
13:11
Hadjar now goes fastest in the sister Red Bull with a 1m44.702s.
13:11
Max Verstappen now goes top in the Red Bull on a 1m45.168s ahead of Kimi Antonelli.
13:10
It's Colapinto from Bortoleto and Lawson at this early stage of Q1.
13:10
Colapinto sets the first proper flying lap at 1m45.768s.
13:09
The first laps on the board are miles off from what we saw earlier, so everyone has clearly been warming up. Perez leads with a 1m55.905s.
13:08
Lance Stroll has had a brief off already down at Turn 7. Not the first driver to do that today.
13:08
We did see in practice that the soft wasn't delivering the best times on opening laps. There is a lot of life in this tyre.
13:08
Verstappen overtakes Russell on the straight, but the Red Bull doesn't actually go for a push and continues to warm his tyres.
13:06
Everyone is out there on soft rubber for the start of this session.
13:05
Potentially a big session for Cadillac coming up. Sergio Perez has the ADUO Ferrari engine upgrade this weekend and he has been pretty quick on it.
Caddy could well get into Q2 for the first time this season.