Verstappen takes pole in Baku as Piastri, Leclerc crash in wild session

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Max Verstappen took pole position and championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed out in qualifying for Formula 1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in a marathon session with constant crashes, rain and a record six red flags.

Red Bull’s Verstappen was fastest by .478 from Carlos Sainz, Jr. of Williams in a session that ran an hour past its scheduled time, longer than most races. Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls starts Sunday’s race a career-best third.

“You just have to send it,” Verstappen said of his final lap, trying to beat a time Sainz had set in much drier conditions.

Piastri slammed into the barrier while chasing pole position on a track left slippery by earlier rainfall. His McLaren teammate Lando Norris was only seventh after clipping the wall on his final lap and couldn’t take full advantage of Piastri’s error.

“I just braked a little bit late,” Piastri told broadcaster Sky Sports. “Disappointing way to end.”

Piastri qualified ninth ahead of Sunday’s race after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also crashed earlier while seeking what would have been a fifth consecutive pole position in Azerbaijan.

Lewis Hamilton showed he had strong pace by going fastest in Friday’s second practice session, but it was yet another disappointing qualifying session for the seven-time champion as he ended up 12th.