George Russell arrived at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix chasing his Mercedes teammate in the championship. He will start Saturday’s race from pole position. Kimi Antonelli, the man he is chasing, will start 16th.
It is a startling reversal from practice, when Mercedes appeared headed for a front-row lockout. Russell topped both opening sessions around Baku’s narrow streets, while Antonelli finished second in the latter despite losing running time earlier to a hydraulic problem. Russell’s 1:43.347 lap put him more than half a second clear of his teammate and 0.827 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen.
Then Antonelli clipped the wall at Turn 1 in qualifying. Damage to the front-left of his car ended his session, leaving the championship leader to watch as Russell claimed pole with a 1:42.526 lap. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified second, 0.837 seconds behind, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri third.
Russell now has a chance to cut an 81-point deficit. Antonelli’s practice pace suggests he can fight his way forward, but he will have to do it through traffic on a circuit where the walls leave little room for error. Verstappen, third in second practice, has his own recovery job after qualifying eighth.
Mercedes has the fastest starter in Baku and a title leader deep in the field. How much of its early 1-2 promise survives will be decided over 51 laps, beginning at 7 p.m. Philippine time.
