Oscar Piastri’s Baku blunder: F1 leader crashes in chaotic Azerbaijan GP qualifying

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In a stunning twist to the Formula 1 title race, championship leader Oscar Piastri slammed into the barriers during Q3 of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday, handing a lifeline to his McLaren teammate Lando Norris. The dramatic incident, which triggered the session’s record sixth red flag, left the 24-year-old Australian starting ninth on the grid – his worst position of the season.

The Baku City Circuit has long been a high-stakes gamble, with its tight walls and long straights punishing even the slightest error. But today’s qualifying session turned into a demolition derby, stretching nearly two hours as crashes piled up. Piastri, who entered the weekend with a commanding 31-point lead over Norris, was pushing hard for a top spot when disaster struck

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Oscar Piastri after the game

“I think I was much happier today, just ultimately I think I tried a bit too hard in Turn 3,” he told reporters afterwards.

“I haven’t actually looked at what I did differently, because I didn’t feel like I did that much differently, but a tiny bit can make a massive difference. So yeah, obviously disappointed with how I performed,” he added.

“I mean also not many people have done long runs this weekend, so the strategy is kind of up in the air a little bit, that gives us opportunities, so we’ll have to wait and see,” he further expressed, reflecting on the lack of running in practice sessions this week.

Max Verstappen shines amid record red flags

The Azerbaijan GP qualifying was F1’s most chaotic ever, with six red flags surpassing Monza 2021’s record. Leclerc’s Turn 8 crash kicked off the Q3 mayhem, followed by Piastri’s shunt. Verstappen, however, stayed composed, delivering a remarkable lap in the final three minutes to pip Sainz, who had been on provisional pole.

“It was a very difficult session and on the last lap you just have to send it,” Verstappen said. “I wasn’t even on the best tyres I wanted because you just run out of tyres.”

Other results

Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson impressed, securing P3 with a time set early in Q3, while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell locked out P5 and P6. Antonelli faces a steward’s investigation for overtaking under yellow flags, adding to the session’s drama. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, fastest in Friday practice, struggled and will start P12 after failing to advance from Q2.

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Lando Norris had a golden chance to close the gap on Piastri but faltered on his final lap. His lap was marred by corner-exit moments and left him behind even the second Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda in P4.

Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar claimed P8, ahead of the crash-affected Piastri and Leclerc. With overtaking opportunities aplenty in Baku, Sunday’s 51-lap race promises a fierce fight.