F1 qualifying LIVE – Q1 suspended after crash with Verstappen ahead

F1 season preview as Max Verstappen looks to defend world title

The qualifying for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place on Friday afternoon with reigning champion Max Verstappen hoping to secure his third pole position of the season. Verstappen was quickest in the only practice session in Baku, but was just three hundredths of a second faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

After a four-week break since the Verstappen won the Australian Grand Prix the series resumes in Baku with the first of six sprint race weekends. Friday afternoon’s qualifying session will set the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, different to last year as part of the new sprint race format.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came closest to challenging Verstappen in Melbourne earlier this month and will be hoping to perform will in qualifying. Both Silver Arrows cars had a quiet practice session on medium tyres finishing down the order.

Saturday’s sprint event is now separate to the grand prix completely but still carried Drivers’ Championship points. A ‘sprint shootout’ qualifying session will be held on Saturday morning before the shortened race in the afternoon – with the top eight earning Championship points.

KEY EVENTS

  • Second red flag14:28
  • Red flag14:10

    • Alpine mechanics can’t believe it

    After a frantic two hours preparing the car of Pierre Gasly ready for qualifying the Alpine mechanics can’t believe it. The French driver’s car caught on fire in practice but was remarkably repaired for qualifying.

    However, Gasly then hit the wall on the exit from a tight turn and has ruined his car.

    Second red flag

    After a fire ended his practice session Pierre Gasly has now brushed the barrier on the exit of a corner resulting in a second red flag

    Back underway

    After a break in proceedings qualifying is back underway with a queue of cars ready to leave the paddock. There is 10 minutes remaining in Q1.

    Carlos Sainz is yet to record a time.

    Max Verstappen investigated

    Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been investigated due to his headrest being loose. Verstappen flagged up the issue on his radio.

    The Dutch driver was investigated over being ‘released in an unsafe condition’. After a stewards review it was found no further investigation was needed.

    Red flag

    Nyck De Vries has missed the apex of the corner and crashed straight into the wall resulting in a red flag.

    “Oh my god!” says the AlphaTaurir driver over his radio. All the cars return to the pits with 10 minutes left of Q1 and Verstappen having the quickest time so far.

    George Russell is yet to get a decent time on the board and sits in 15h currently

    First flying run

    Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton has switched onto the soft tyres and enters his first flying lap with the help of some draft by Nico Hulkenberg. Hamilton sets the fastest time which is immediately beaten by Alex Albon and then Valtteri Bottas.

    Max Verstappen has the fastest time after the first flying run of 1-41.887.

    Qualifying is underway

    Pierre Gasly is the first driver out of the paddock, just to prove his Alpine car still moves after the remarkable efforts of mechanics over the last two hours.

    Gasly thanks his Alpine team for getting his car ready. Fernando Alonso is another driver keen to get out of the paddock as drivers enter the track.

    Ready for qualifying

    Drivers are making their final preparations as Q1 in Baku is about to begin. It could provide an exciting session as the tight street circuit in Baku leaves little room for error.

    The six kilometre course includes 20 corners.

    Pierre Gasly

    With 10 minutes before qualifying begins Alpine mechanics are still working hard on Pierre Gasly’s car which caught on fire during practice.

    During the two-hour gap between practice and qualifying the mechanics have had to change the gear box and power unit.

    Start time

    Q1 gets underway at 2pm and all the eyes will be on Max Verstappen to see if he can take a third pole position of the season.

    How much Mercedes have been able to improve their car over the last four weeks is also unclear after both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had a quiet practice session.

    Practice

    With just the one practice for drivers to test their cars on the Baku street course there was always going to be some nerves.

    It wasn’t without incident as Pierre Gasley’s car caught on fire bringing practice to a temporary halt. His car was eventually picked up by a breakdown lorry and taken back to the pits. It’s unclear what the damage was or if he can take part in qualifying.

    Qualifying

    Welcome to grand prix qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

    Max Verstappen was quickest in the only practice session on Friday morning in Baku and will be aiming for another pole position.

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