George Russell took pole for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, beating Charles Leclerc by more than eight-tenths, while teammate Kimi Antonelli qualified 16th after clipping the Turn 1 wall in Q1. Russell trails Antonelli by 81 points before Saturday’s race.
Russell’s fifth pole of the season is his first since the Austrian Grand Prix. At the Italian Grand Prix, Antonelli started from the back after a power-unit change but came through to beat Russell by nearly four seconds; Antonelli will not have a new power unit in Baku.
Russell said he would keep fighting for the title until it is mathematically impossible and that he feels no pressure. He called Antonelli flawless this season and said this was Antonelli’s first mistake in qualifying or a race this year.
