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George Russell grabs 5th pole of season at Azerbaijan

By Thomson Reuters Sep 25, 2026 | 11:38 AM

By Field Level Media

Sep 25 (Field Level Media) – Mercedes’ George Russell clinched his fifth ​Formula 1 pole of the ‌season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Friday.

The Brit roared through the Baku street circuit in a ‌time ​of 1:42.526 in ⁠Q3, comfortably ahead of ⁠runner-up Charles Leclerc of Ferrari at 1:43.363. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was third, just 0.001 seconds ​behind Leclerc.

Russell will be looking for his third win ⁠of the season ⁠on Saturday after finishing ​second to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ​at last year’s Azerbaijan GP.

Mercedes ‌teammate and current F1 points leader Kimi Antonelli of Italy crashed out of Q1 and ⁠will start 16th.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar returned from a wrist injury and qualified ⁠fourth ‌in his first action ⁠since the Hungarian GP ​on ‌July 26.

The remainder of ​the top ⁠10, in order, are McLaren’s Lando Norris, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Verstappen, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.

(–Field ​Level Media)