Max Verstappen secures pole position in Baku despite chaos, wind, and six red flags—and he also cheers on his GT3 team
“I was really angry that I missed my GT3 team’s race because qualifying took so long,” laughs Max Verstappen after securing pole position in Formula 1 qualifying in Baku. “But when I looked at my phone and saw that they had won, everything was fine again.”
While the Dutchman himself won the most spectacular qualifying session of the year, his team Verstappen.com Racing won in Valencia at the same time. Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham drove the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 to victory in the GT World Challenge. “That makes me proud,” said Verstappen, “they still have a lot to learn, but this success is a great moment for all of us.”
This gave Verstappen two reasons to celebrate—once for his private racing passion and once for his sixth pole position of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Chaotic qualifying in Baku: “You only have one lap”
The qualifying session in Azerbaijan went down as one of the most chaotic in recent Formula 1 history. A total of six red flags interrupted the proceedings, rain set in at times, and gusts of wind threw the cars sideways. Verstappen describes the challenge: “It was very difficult to get the tires into the right window. There were constant interruptions, then rain, then dry again—you could never get into a rhythm.”
Q3 in particular was a test of nerves. “In the end, you only have one lap,” said the Red Bull star. “You know the others are pushing too. So you have to give it your all. I couldn’t even use the tire I wanted—the medium was already worn out. The soft wasn’t really ideal, but it was the only option.“
Verstappen delivered anyway. On his last lap, he struck the perfect balance between risk and control. ”The lap was just very good, I felt really comfortable. No one really had any rhythm, so maybe that was even an advantage for me.“
On the up after Monza: ”We’re doing a better job“
The victory at Monza two weeks ago was a turning point for Verstappen. He picked up where he left off in Baku. ”Since Monza, we’ve simply been doing a better job,” he emphasizes. “You can have more confidence in the car, refine the details, and go into qualifying with a better feeling.”
He also made a statement in the World Championship battle. With his sixth pole position of the season, Verstappen now has more than any other driver in 2025. “We improved a little bit from practice to practice, and then we were where it counts in qualifying.”
He also highlighted the team’s performance: four Red Bull drivers made it into the top 10, including Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. “All four did a great job, which wasn’t easy in these conditions.”
The pitfalls of Baku: wind, rain, and risk
“This track is difficult enough even without wind,” said Verstappen, who had never been on pole in Baku before. “But with these gusts that are constantly changing—sometimes understeer, sometimes oversteer, even on the straights—it makes it extreme.”
The current generation of ground-effect cars are particularly sensitive. According to the drivers, even small gusts can cost up to 30 percent downforce. “These cars are big and heavy, so small movements make a huge difference,” explains Verstappen. “And here in Baku, with the long straights and open spaces, you feel it even more.”
Pole position was therefore anything but a foregone conclusion for him. “It was definitely not easy. But it’s precisely sessions like this that make it all the more satisfying when you end up at the front.“
Looking ahead to the race: ”We’re driving our own race“
Despite all the euphoria, Verstappen warned against getting carried away ahead of Sunday. ”The McLarens will be coming, they’re fast. We have to focus on ourselves, drive our own race and then see where we end up.”
Tire wear in particular will be crucial. “I hope the car is kind to the tires. My long runs were good, but that’s no guarantee.” Baku is also considered a chaotic track: safety cars and incidents are almost guaranteed. There is also the threat of rain.
Verstappen knows that pole position is an advantage, but not a free pass. “It’s going to be a long race, 51 laps. You have to stay cool and adapt. Everything else will become clear.”
