Salvage Baku disaster to save F1 championship against Max Verstappen
Lando Norris is set to start the Azerbaijan GP from P16 after a disastrous qualifying; title rival Max Verstappen is sixth on the grid; Charles Leclerc took pole for Ferrari; watch the Azerbaijan GP live on Sky Sports F1 at 12pm on Sunday, with build-up from 10.30am
Lando Norris’ Formula 1 title hopes are “not over” after a disastrous qualifying left the Brit needing to fight back in Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, according to Jacques Villeneuve.
Norris faces an uphill task in Baku as he starts from 16th on the grid in Baku having made a shock exit from the first part of qualifying on Saturday amid confusion around yellow flags.
The McLaren driver is attempting to close down Max Verstappen’s 62-point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship, with the Dutchman starting from sixth after another underwhelming Red Bull display as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took pole.
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With the title contenders set to be in the thick of the action on the tight, twisty Baku City Circuit, Sunday’s race, at 12pm on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event, will almost certainly be pivotal in the title race.
“Lando knows he has a quick car and Red Bull will suffer in a straight line with a big wing,” said 1997 F1 world champion and Sky Sports F1’s special guest pundit Villeneuve.
“Max is starting sixth and could have an issue at the start and not score points, then Lando finishes seventh or eighth and scores a few points.
“It’s not over in the championship battle. If Verstappen was on pole, it would be a different story.”
