F1 LIVE: 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Race Day

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is underway, promising a thrilling conclusion to the race weekend after a chaotic qualifying session. Max Verstappen starts from pole position, with Carlos Sainz securing a career-best second place for Williams, and Liam Lawson impressing with third.

Why it matters:

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for its unpredictable nature, and this year's edition is shaping up to be no different. With a highly disrupted qualifying session and challenging weather conditions expected, the race could have significant implications for both the drivers' and constructors' championships.

The Details:

• Qualifying Chaos: Saturday's qualifying was exceptionally long, featuring six red flags due to multiple crashes. Both Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri notably crashed out in Q3.
• Pole Position: Max Verstappen secured pole position, maintaining his strong form.
• Surprise Front Row: Carlos Sainz delivered a career-best second place in qualifying for Williams, showcasing strong pace.
• Liam Lawson's Success: Liam Lawson achieved the best qualifying result of his career, starting third.
• Lando Norris's Challenge: Despite his championship rival's issues, Lando Norris could only manage seventh, putting pressure on him to gain positions.

The weather in Baku:

• Cloudy and Colder: The race is expected to begin with temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius, dropping by two degrees during the session.
• Wind Concerns: Strong winds are anticipated to be a major factor, potentially causing difficulties for drivers, especially on a circuit with minimal room for error due to the close proximity of the walls.

The Big Picture:

McLaren is on the verge of securing the Constructors' Championship today. With a substantial lead over Ferrari and Mercedes, they have a clear path to clinch the title.

• Championship Scenario: McLaren needs to outscore Ferrari by nine points and avoid being outscored by Mercedes by 12 points to claim the constructors' title.
• Key Drivers: While Norris and Piastri start further down the grid, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell qualified fourth and fifth, posing a threat to McLaren's championship hopes.

What's next:

The race promises intense battles and strategic plays as teams navigate the challenging Baku City Circuit and variable weather. All eyes will be on McLaren to see if they can secure the Constructors' Championship, while drivers like Norris will be pushing hard to recover positions and maximize their points haul in a crucial championship race.