The 2026 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is ready to get under way at the Baku City Circuit, with George Russell starting from pole position and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc alongside him on the front row. The 51-lap race is the 15th round of the Formula 1 season, with the unpredictable nature of Baku leaving the door open to Safety Cars, interruptions and potentially decisive incidents.
George Russell produced a superb qualifying performance to secure pole and will now try to convert the advantage into victory after establishing himself as the benchmark from the opening laps of Thursday practice. Charles Leclerc, however, is ideally positioned to challenge the Mercedes driver, while Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris could also be factors after McLaren appeared not to maximise its potential on the final Q3 runs.
2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP race live from Baku
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the race that will decide the points at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. There are 51 laps scheduled and, under normal conditions, the Grand Prix should last a little under an hour and a half. However, interruptions, Safety Car periods and possible accidents could extend proceedings considerably – something that would hardly be unprecedented on the streets of Baku.
The race follows a dramatic qualifying session in which George Russell secured pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver will therefore have an immediate opportunity to attack from the front row, while the complete qualifying picture and gaps can also be explored through the F1 Qualifying Pace & Sector Comparison.
George Russell on pole with Charles Leclerc alongside
Starting at the front after a stunning pole position in qualifying is George Russell, who will be hoping to confirm in the race the dominant role he has played since the first laps of Thursday’s practice sessions. Charles Leclerc is the immediate threat alongside him, giving Ferrari a major opportunity from the front row.
The battle follows a qualifying session in which George Russell claimed Baku pole while Charles Leclerc secured a Ferrari front-row start, setting up an intriguing run towards the opening corner and a potentially crucial strategic battle over the 51 laps.
Attention must also be paid to the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who probably did not extract the maximum potential available to them on their final laps in Q3. That leaves another major variable in a race where track position, slipstreaming and any Safety Car intervention could quickly reshape the order.
Kimi Antonelli faces a major recovery drive in Baku
From a championship perspective, much of the attention will be focused on Andrea Kimi Antonelli and his attempt to recover through the field after his mistake in Q1 left him starting towards the rear of the grid. His progress will therefore be one of the most important storylines to follow as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix develops.
Will Baku deliver another surprise? Follow the live coverage and commentary as the 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix unfolds at the Baku City Circuit.
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