Key events<\/p>\n
Swedish House Mafia is now blaring out on the track, as Russell gets on his Mercedes scooter to head for the track and shares a few \u2013 and I mean only a few \u2013 words with Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
If you want the vibe following at home, go for it:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fair play, the Azerbaijan anthem is an absolute banger. And it has just been terrifically performed on track.<\/p>\n If you remember, last year, before lights out, George Russell and Lando Norris were seen giggling as a group of local children belted the anthem out with plenty of passion.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re about to get the anthems and all the pre-race pomp and ceremony. The drivers and teams are making their on-track adjustments before it all starts.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lando Norris hasn\u2019t been a particularly happy bunny this season. He described McLaren\u2019s lack of pace as \u201cpretty pants\u201d in the lead-up to this Grand Prix, and fifth on the grid to start the race reflects that mediocre performance by the reigning world champion.<\/p>\n With Piastri qualifying third, can Norris rein in his teammate and finish on the podium this weekend? It would seem doubtful, in truth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Whether races take place in the Middle East towards the end of the season, or not, could affect this season\u2019s F1 world championship. Kimi Antonelli leads<\/a> his Mercedes teammate George Russell by 81 points with nine meetings remaining, as it stands. If that number was reduced the Italian could close it out even sooner than might be expected.<\/p>\n Formula One is pressing ahead with its original plan to finish the season with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, although a contingency is understood to be in place to host a final round in Imola if the volatile situation means both meetings have to be cancelled.<\/p>\n \u201cI personally want to go. I love going to the Middle East,\u201d said Ferrari\u2019s Lewis Hamilton. \u201cFrom what I have read, things seem OK out there, but I don\u2019t have all the information and I don\u2019t know what the risk levels are. I trust in Stefano [Domenicali, F1\u2019s chief executive] to make the right decision for the sport. And I do hope we get to go there.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s a big opportunity,\u201d says Antonelli, speaking to the broadcasters. \u201cThe car is very quick, so hopefully we can gain a lot of places.\u201d<\/p>\n The 20-year-old is a confident young man.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Is there any chance Kimi Antonelli can win this race from way back on the grid? Well, at Monza he came back from 19th to take victory <\/a>and Baku, with its long straights, has similarly generous opportunities for overtaking. But he cannot afford to be caught in incidents in the midfield.<\/p>\n \u201cRace smart in the early stages tomorrow and I am sure he has the pace to climb his way back up the field,\u201d said the Mercedes deputy team principal, Bradley Lord.<\/p>\n His teammate, George Russell, said: \u201cYou can\u2019t discount Kimi. You know, started 19th in Monza and now he\u2019s in 16th, so, yeah, he should be leading by a few laps early this time.\u201d He added: \u201cHe\u2019s been flawless this season. It\u2019s the first mistake he\u2019s made in a qualifying or race this whole year.\u201d<\/p>\n Mercedes pair Russell and Antonelli on the drivers parade before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Photograph: Sam Bloxham\/LAT ImagesShare<\/a>Reminder of qualifying positions<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how the grid looks at the start of the race:<\/p>\n Russell (Mercedes)<\/p>\n Leclerc (Ferrari)<\/p>\n Piastri (McLaren)<\/p>\n Hadjar (Red Bull)<\/p>\n Norris (McLaren)<\/p>\n Hamilton (Ferrari)<\/p>\n Gasly (Alpine)<\/p>\n Verstappen (Red Bull)<\/p>\n Sainz (Williams)<\/p>\n Colapinto (Alpine)<\/p>\n Bearman (Haas)<\/p>\n Lawson (Racing Bulls)<\/p>\n Albon (Williams)<\/p>\n Ocon (Haas)<\/p>\n Lindblad (Racing Bulls)<\/p>\n Antonelli (Mercedes)<\/p>\n Bortoleto (Audi)<\/p>\n Hulkenberg (Audi)<\/p>\n Alonso (Aston Martin)<\/p>\n Perez (Cadillac)<\/p>\n Stroll (Aston Martin)<\/p>\n Bottas (Cadillac)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix \u2013 with a rare Saturday race day for us all to enjoy. The big story from qualifying yesterday was runaway World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashing out<\/a>, meaning he will start today\u2019s race 16th on the grid, handing the initiative to his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who claimed pole position.<\/p>\n Antonelli said his crash was \u201cstupid\u201d but also \u201ca good way to come back to earth\u201d after a stunning few weeks for the young Italian driver, who won the Italian and Spanish Grands Prix to take his tally to eight race wins so far this season.<\/p>\n Second fastest in qualifying in Baku was Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc second, with Oscar Piastri third.<\/p>\n The race gets under way at 3pm local time in Azerbaijan, which translated to midday UK time. We\u2019ll bring you all the relevant buildup, followed by lap-by-lap updates, well near enough anyway. Can Antonelli pull off the improbable in Baku, can Russell close the gap to the championship leader, or can one of the Ferraris or McLarens make an impact? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n