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<\/p>\n\u201cI just braked a little bit late,\u201d Piastri told broadcaster Sky Sports. \u201cDisappointing way to end.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Australian briefly perched on a chair trackside near a drinks fridge as he took in the consequences of a rare mistake in the title race. He leads Norris by 31 points.<\/p>\n
Piastri qualified ninth ahead of Sunday\u2019s race after Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc also crashed earlier while seeking what would have been a fifth consecutive pole position in Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton showed he had strong pace by going fastest in Friday\u2019s second practice session, but it was yet another disappointing qualifying session for the seven-time champion as he ended up 12th.<\/p>\n
Williams nearly makes history<\/p>\n
For a few minutes, the Williams team dreamed of a first pole position in 11 years.<\/p>\n
Sainz was fastest of only three drivers who\u2019d set valid times when Leclerc crashed as the rain started to fall. If it kept raining during the red-flag stoppage, no one would be able to beat his time.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can start dancing to see if it rains a bit harder, no?\u201d Sainz told Williams over the radio as the session was stopped.<\/p>\n
Sainz\u2019s chances went up when there was a second red flag for Piastri\u2019s crash, just as Verstappen was poised to beat his time, but the Dutch driver \u2014 known for his skill in the rain \u2014 snatched pole with his final attempt.<\/p>\n
Chaos on track<\/p>\n
The first of the six red flags was for Alex Albon stopping his Williams after he clipped the wall, another came when Nico Hulkenberg slid into a barrier and left half of his Sauber\u2019s front wing there, before a third red flag for a bizarre incident involving both Alpines.<\/p>\n
Pierre Gasly missed a turn and stopped in an escape road. Seconds later, his teammate Franco Colapinto hit the wall nearby, seemingly in surprise at seeing Gasly stuck at the side of the track.<\/p>\n
Alpine\u2019s executive advisor \u2014 and de facto team head \u2014 Flavio Briatore was seen gesturing in disbelief as both of his drivers were eliminated from the session.<\/p>\n
The fourth red flag came when Oliver Bearman stopped his damaged Haas on track, before Leclerc and Piastri\u2019s crashes brought stoppages five and six.<\/p>\n
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