BAKU :Max Verstappen put Red Bull on pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday after McLaren’s Formula One leader Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed out in a qualifying session marred by a record six stoppages.
Carlos Sainz put his Williams on the front row alongside the four-time world champion on a tough afternoon for runaway leaders McLaren, who can clinch the constructors’ title on Sunday.
Piastri qualified ninth without setting a time in the final phase, while teammate and title rival Lando Norris will start seventh after missing a big chance to put distance between himself and the Australian.
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson qualified third with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli fourth in an all-rookie second row.
