Max Verstappen in Baku - Photo: Race Pictures

Azerbaijan GP grid revealed as F1 veteran gets quali disqualification

12:31, 21 Sep

Updated: 12:41, 21 Sep

bySamson Ero

The final starting grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been announced ahead of lights out for the Baku street race. Formula 1 veteran and Haas driver Esteban Ocon will start from the rear of the grid following his disqualification from qualifying.

Max Verstappen qualified P1 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Photo: RacePictures.

The Baku race, which saw its qualifying session feature several red flags and was largely marred by incidents, also witnessed a few drivers, including Franco Colapinto and Oscar Piastri, take new chassis for the Grand Prix following their respective crashes.

However, amid the chaos that overshadowed qualifying, it was Max Verstappen who clinched pole, ahead of what can be described as a surprising pack of Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson. The Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell follow closely in fourth and fifth, while Yuki Tsunoda also recorded his best qualifying start for the Red Bull team with sixth place.

Isack Hadjar split the McLarens of Lando Norris and Piastri with an eighth-place start, with Charles Leclerc wrapping up the top 10 on the starting grid.