Piastri crash triggers record six red flags in Azerbaijan GP qualifying

Oscar Piastri, the 2025 Formula 1 championship leader, crashed during the final qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, locking up and hitting the barriers at Turn 3, which caused the sixth red flag in a chaotic qualifying. This was a rare error for Piastri, who had been consistent throughout the season, and he admitted to braking late and trying too hard under difficult conditions including wind and light rain. Despite the crash damaging his McLaren chassis, he was allowed to start the race from ninth position after a replacement chassis was fitted without penalty. His teammate Lando Norris also struggled, qualifying seventh after his own minor incident, meaning both McLarens will start mid-grid. Piastri acknowledged that while a win would be ambitious, McLaren's strong pace could allow progress during the race. Team principal Andrea Stella defended Piastri, noting the challenging conditions and the difficulty in putting laps together at Baku, but recognized the impact of mistakes on their championship ambitions.