Oscar Piastri will need to fight through the pack to claim a second straight race win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. LIVE BELOW!
The Australian crashed into the wall at Turn 3 in qualifying, ruling him out of a shot at pole position and he will start in ninth place on the grid as a result.
The carnage of qualifying meant that Piastri was not as severely punished as he may have been with a record sixth red flags having to be waved.
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Piastri’s chassis was so damaged McLaren have needed to use a spare one, but they were permitted to do so under parc ferme rules because he “suffered genuine accident damage or has suffered a significant failure or fault”.
It means he will not be forced into a pit-lane start.
McLaren’s Lando Norris failed to capitalise on his teammate’s slip up, as he only qualified in seventh after clipping a barrier proved costly.
It is a rare occurrence this season that the two title rivals are starting outside the first three rows, but it will make for a fascinating duel as McLaren will be put to test strategically as both their drivers seek to make up ground.
Piastri’s following team orders and giving Norris back his place after a slow pit stop at Monza a fortnight ago caused a stir, and there could be similar occurrence on the tight streets of Baku.
Max Verstappen will start from pole as he chases a second straight race win, and he will view this race as a huge opportunity to make up ground on the McLaren duo in the driver’s standings.
The race starts at 9pm AEST.
GRID
Front row: Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Williams-Mercedes)
2nd row: Liam Lawson (NZL/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes)
3rd row: George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Red Bull)
4th row: Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) Isack Hadjar (FRA/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
5th row: Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
6th row: Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari)
7th row: Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Sauber-Ferrari) Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
8th row: Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas-Ferrari) Franco Colapinto (ARG/Alpine-Renault)
9th row: Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Sauber-Ferrari) Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
10th row: Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas-Ferrari)
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