BREAKING: Amended F1 2026 Azerbaijan GP Starting Grid Revealed After Late FIA Penalties App… Read more

BREAKING: Amended F1 2026 Azerbaijan GP Starting Grid Revealed After Late FIA Penalties

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix starting grid has been reshuffled after a series of late FIA penalties, with several drivers moving positions ahead of Saturday’s race in Baku.

George Russell retains pole position for Mercedes, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start alongside him on the front row. Oscar Piastri completes the top three, followed by Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton will start sixth for Ferrari after qualifying sixth fastest. �

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The changes became necessary after the FIA stewards issued several decisions following qualifying and earlier power-unit changes. The FIA’s official documentation lists the provisional starting grid alongside separate decisions involving Carlos Sainz, Sergio Pérez and other drivers. �

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The major changes

One of the biggest changes concerns Carlos Sainz.

The Williams driver originally qualified ninth, but he was handed a five-place grid penalty after the stewards found that he failed to slow sufficiently for yellow flags during qualifying. As a result, Sainz drops from ninth to 14th, with Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson, Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon all gaining positions. �

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Sainz’s penalty is particularly significant because his upgraded Williams had shown enough pace to reach Q3 and challenge much higher up the order. Instead, the FIA decision has left him facing a considerably more difficult race from the midfield.

There was also drama involving Sergio Pérez.

The Cadillac driver qualified 19th but was investigated for impeding Oscar Piastri during qualifying. The stewards determined that Pérez unnecessarily impeded the McLaren driver and handed him a three-place grid penalty. However, because Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are already serving larger penalties, Pérez remains classified in 20th place on the amended grid. �

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Aston Martin hit by huge penalties

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll face the biggest penalties of the weekend.

Alonso’s power-unit changes triggered a cumulative 30-place penalty, while Stroll received a 20-place penalty. Because penalties exceeding 15 places require a driver to start from the back of the field, both Aston Martins occupy the final two positions. �

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That means Alonso, despite qualifying 21st on raw qualifying classification, will start 21st, while Stroll starts 22nd.

The penalties have therefore created a fascinating contrast at the bottom of the grid, while Sainz’s penalty has substantially altered the midfield.

Hamilton remains sixth

For Ferrari fans, Lewis Hamilton’s position is one of the major talking points.

Hamilton qualified sixth behind Norris but ahead of Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen. The late grid changes involving Sainz, Pérez and the Aston Martin pair do not move Hamilton from his sixth-place starting position. �

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Hamilton has, however, already attracted FIA attention in Baku. Earlier in the weekend, he received a driving reprimand after an FP2 impeding incident involving Liam Lawson. That reprimand does not alter Saturday’s starting position. �

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Final amended Azerbaijan GP grid

George Russell — Mercedes

Charles Leclerc — Ferrari

Oscar Piastri — McLaren

Isack Hadjar — Red Bull

Lando Norris — McLaren

Lewis Hamilton — Ferrari

Pierre Gasly — Alpine

Max Verstappen — Red Bull

Franco Colapinto — Alpine

Oliver Bearman — Haas

Liam Lawson — Racing Bulls

Alexander Albon — Williams

Esteban Ocon — Haas

Carlos Sainz — Williams

Arvid Lindblad — Racing Bulls

Kimi Antonelli — Mercedes

Gabriel Bortoleto — Audi

Nico Hülkenberg — Audi

Valtteri Bottas — Cadillac

Sergio Pérez — Cadillac

Fernando Alonso — Aston Martin

Lance Stroll — Aston Martin �

Pitpass

The grid now sets up a particularly intriguing race in Baku. Russell has the advantage of pole, Ferrari has Leclerc starting second and Hamilton sixth, while Verstappen begins eighth and championship leader Kimi Antonelli faces a recovery drive from 16th after his Q1 crash.

With the Baku City Circuit offering long straights and plenty of overtaking opportunities, the amended grid could make the opening laps especially important.