Overview
- Colapinto said confusion over flags and Pierre Gasly ahead distracted him before he lost the car and hit the barrier, bringing out a red flag.
- After finishing 19th in FP1 and 20th in FP2, he improved to 15th in FP3 before qualifying unraveled.
- He lines up 16th, ahead of fellow Q1 exits Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Gasly and Alexander Albon in a stop‑start session with multiple red flags.
- Max Verstappen took pole, Carlos Sainz Jr. starts second and Liam Lawson third, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri set to begin seventh and ninth respectively.
- Baku’s race deal has been extended through at least 2030, and Sunday’s grand prix begins at 8:00 in Argentina on Fox Sports and Disney+.