F1 2025 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Race latest updates, start time, stream and schedule in Baku – UK Times

What a shock here – it’s Piastri’s first retirement in 44 races!

It looks like he jumped the start, dropped to last, and then locked up at turn 5, smashing his McLaren in the wall.

What an opportunity for Lando Norris then to make up some ground in the championship. However, he’s dropped to eighth in the opening phase.

The championship leader is OUT of the race – he’s crashed in the wall at turn 5!

Lights out and it’s smooth for the frontrunners, who all keep position and get away cleanly, with Verstappen still in front.

But Piastri has, sensationally, dropped from ninth to 20th!

Verstappen leads the pack around the track then for the formation lap.

Most drivers starting on mediums, with a one-stop the expected strategy, but Verstappen is on hards at the front.

What will happen at the start here?!

We’re just minutes away from the race in Baku!

Max Verstappen starts on pole and is the heavy favourite to claim a fourth win of the season, with a short run down to turn 1.

Carlos Sainz is in second for Williams, with Liam Lawson in third.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are seventh and ninth respectively, with Lewis Hamilton in P12. With such a mixed-up grid and rain potentially on the horizon, expect an action-packed race!

*Ocon was disqualified from qualifying after failing a rear-wing test

“There’s a bit of a rainstorm overnight so let’s see, need to keep it clean in the first few laps.

“Carlos is as cool as a cucumber, let’s see how it develops.”

A quick-fix from the Racing Bulls mechanics but, seemingly, Hadjar’s car is ready to go from eighth on the grid.

Relief for the Frenchman!

On Verstappen going for the win: “It’s clear that McLaren and Ferrari are very fast, we don’t take anything for granted, we know it’ll be a very tough fight, anything can happen today.”

Performed by Alim Qasimov and his daughter at the front of the grid…