Summary

  • Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 12:00 BST

  • George Russell on pole with Charles Leclerc alongside

  • Piastri third, Hadjar fourth, Norris fifth and Hamilton sixth

  • Championship leader Kimi Antonelli starts 16th after qualifying crash

  • Select 'listen live' for BBC Radio 5 Live commentary (UK only)

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Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Past five Azerbaijan GP winners

    • 2025 – Max Verstappen, Red Bull
    • 2024 – Oscar Piastri, McLaren
    • 2023 – Sergio Perez, Red Bull
    • 2022 – Max Verstappen, Red Bull
    • 2021 – Sergio Perez, Red Bull

  2. 'Race start will be key'

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    Pole-sitter George Russell, speaking during the drivers' parade: "Yesterday was an amazing day but now it is full focus to try to convert it to a win. I’m feeling confident. I think we’ve got great pace beneath us.

    "I think the race start is going to be key. I’m sure Charles is going to be pretty motivated to overtake at the beginning.

    "But I’m confident if I can get the lead, I can try to pull that gap and control the race."

  3. More ways to listen live

    BBC Sounds

    You can listen to live coverage now via this page.

    On the move? Remember you can also take 5 Live’s coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix along with you on the BBC Sounds app. Or if you want to listen via your smart speaker, just ask your device to ‘play 5 Live’.

    More insight and analysis will be available on the F1: Chequered Flag podcast today - just search ‘F1’ on BBC Sounds.

  4. Antonelli 'comes back to earth' with qualifying crash

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent

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    Kimi Antonelli says his crash in qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was "stupid" and "a good way to come back to earth" as he pursues his first world title.

    The Mercedes driver, who has been running away with the championship this season, hit a wall in first qualifying in Baku and will start Saturday's race 16th.

    Team-mate George Russell, his closest pursuer in the title race, starts from pole after a dominant performance.

    Antonelli said: "I misjudged with the grip being so different compared to the first lap. I hit the wall. Unnecessary mistake early on.

    "So it's a good way to come back to earth and to remind myself I need to be on top of it every time because otherwise I do these mistakes and a very stupid one."

    He added that he was "very mad about it".

  5. 'Can't discount Kimi'

    Hello and welcome along to our coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix!

    Championship leader Kimi Antonelli starts today's race down in 16th after he clipped a wall in the first part of qualifying yesterday, ending his session early.

    As a result, George Russell might be forgiven for thinking he's got a golden chance to cut the deficit in the standings but the Brit is not getting carried away.

    Antonelli started 19th on the grid at the Italian Grand Prix but produced a stunning drive to win.

    "You can't discount Kimi," Russell says.

    "You know, started 19th in Monza and now he's in 16th, so, yeah, he should be leading by a few laps early this time."

  6. Lots of work to do

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    Kimi Antonelli has built a dominant lead in the championship as he sits 81 points clear of George Russell.

    But a mistake in qualifying means he has plenty of work to do at today's Azerbaijan Grand Prix to avoid that advantage being narrowed a bit as he starts towards the back of the grid while Russell is on pole.

    A tough task, but Antonelli has form for fighting back from such positions...