Overview

• Williams' Carlos Sainz qualified second and said he was "very happy" after the team "nailed" the session.
• Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson secured third on the grid following the disrupted Q3 sprint to a single flying lap.
• RaceFans analysis shows the eight quickest cars have been separated by under 1% across the last five races, underscoring an unusually tight field.
• Pre‑race outlook points to a likely one‑stop from medium to hard, with Baku’s short run to Turn 1 and a high probability of Safety Car periods shaping opportunities.
• McLaren start off the front rows and will need to gain positions on Sunday to bolster their advantage in the constructors’ championship.