Verstappen on pole in Baku after Piastri and Leclerc crash

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.