New surprises could be in store at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the Formula 1 title fight as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will both have to fight their way through it.
McLaren's Norris starts seventh and his teammate Piastri starts at ninth for today's race after a dramatic qualifying session with plenty of crashes, rain and red flags. The qualifying session was stopped six times — a record for Formula 1. Red Bull's Max Verstappen took pole position in Azerbaijan for the first time in his career.
On a high-speed street circuit that saw plenty of crashes in qualifying, the race could be a risky one for the two McLaren drivers. Qualifying further back is also a hit to the team's hopes of sealing the constructors' title.
The softer-compound tires in use this week aren't expected to last long, so strategy could also play a big role.
The race offers a rare chance to score big points for Williams' Carlos Sainz, Jr. in second. There are three rookies in the first four rows of the grid as Liam Lawson starts a career-best third for Racing Bulls, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes is fourth, and Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar starts eighth.
Meanwhile, Haas's Esteban Ocon was disqualified from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday after his car's rear wing failed a technical inspection.
(With PTI inputs)
