The starting grid for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been significantly altered following the imposition of four grid penalties by the FIA. These sanctions, issued after qualifying, have reshuffled positions across the field ahead of the race at the Baku City Circuit. The Grand Prix is set to commence shortly on Saturday, September 26.
Carlos Sainz received a five-place grid penalty. The Williams driver was found to have failed to slow sufficiently under yellow flags during the qualifying session. This infringement drops Sainz from his original ninth-place qualifying position to 14th on the revised grid.
Sergio Perez of Cadillac was also penalised, receiving a three-place grid drop for impeding Oscar Piastri during Q1. Despite this penalty, Perez will maintain his 20th starting position. This is due to other drivers incurring more substantial penalties further down the order.
Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both face significant penalties for exceeding their power unit component allocations. Alonso was handed a 30-place grid penalty. This was for installing a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, power unit ancillary component, and an additional energy store.
Stroll received a 20-place grid penalty for similar breaches, involving new turbocharger, energy store, control electronics, and power unit ancillary components. Both Aston Martin drivers will consequently start from the very back of the grid, irrespective of their qualifying performances.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Racing car underwent multiple power unit component changes. The Dutchman’s internal combustion engine, turbocharger, exhaust set, and a power unit ancillary component were all replaced following issues in qualifying. Red Bull will be hoping the new components allow Verstappen to challenge for a strong result in the upcoming race.
Crucially, these changes fall within Verstappen’s season’s permitted allocation. As a result, the Red Bull driver avoids a grid penalty and will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from his qualified eighth position.
The penalties have not affected the very front of the grid. George Russell starts from pole position for Mercedes, having delivered a dominant qualifying performance. Charles Leclerc lines up alongside him in second place for Ferrari.
Oscar Piastri will start third for McLaren, with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in fourth. Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton complete the third row. Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen occupy the fourth row of the grid.
The provisional starting grid for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is as follows:
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
5. Lando Norris (McLaren)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
9. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
