Pole position winner Mercedes' British driver George Russell, second placed Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc and third placed McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri pose after the qualifying session of the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Igor IVANKO / AFP via Getty Images)

Pole position winner Mercedes' British driver George Russell, second placed Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc and third placed McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri pose after the qualifying session of the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Igor IVANKO / AFP via Getty Images)

Pole position winner Mercedes' British driver George Russell talks to second placed Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc as third placed McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri stands nearby after the qualifying session of the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Igor IVANKO / AFP via Getty Images)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 25: Eighth placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks dejected in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 25, 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Pole position winner Mercedes' British driver George Russell talks to second placed Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc after the qualifying session of the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Igor IVANKO / AFP via Getty Images)

Pole position winner Mercedes' British driver George Russell talks to second placed Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc after the qualifying session of the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Igor IVANKO / AFP via Getty Images)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 25: Eighth placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks dejected in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 25, 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 25: Eighth placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 25, 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)