The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in Baku entered its decisive phase on Saturday, with Free Practice 3 (FP3) and qualifying delivering a clear picture of the championship battle. According to the official Formula 1 live coverage, Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) posted the fastest lap in FP3, clocking a 1:41.245 on the 6.003‑km street circuit. His teammate Sergio Pérez was second, just 0.12 seconds off the pace, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three.
Earlier in the day, the three practice sessions saw a mixture of tyre strategies and track‑limit scrutineering. Crash.net reported that the first two practice sessions were dominated by Red Bull, but the final session saw Ferrari improve markedly after a short‑run on the soft compound. The data from planetf1.com confirmed that Leclerc’s best time in FP3 was 0.45 seconds quicker than his FP2 effort, signalling the team’s rapid adaptation to Baku’s abrasive surface.
Qualifying, covered live by the Formula 1 website, produced a dramatic shift on the grid. Charles Leclerc claimed pole position with a 1:40.987 lap, edging out Verstappen by a mere 0.07 seconds. This marks Leclerc’s third pole of the season and his first in Azerbaijan, giving Ferrari a strategic advantage on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult. Sergio Pérez qualified third, while McLaren’s Lando Norris secured a surprising fourth place after a flawless final sector run.
For Indian fans, the qualifying session started at 13:00 IST and the race is scheduled for Sunday at 15:30 IST. Both sessions will be streamed live on FanCode, which holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for F1 in India. The time‑zone conversion means Indian viewers can catch the action in the early afternoon, a convenient slot for weekend viewing.
Looking ahead, the Baku results set up a classic showdown between Red Bull and Ferrari, with Leclerc’s pole offering a rare chance to challenge Verstappen’s championship lead. The high‑speed straights and tight corners of the Baku circuit often produce unexpected outcomes, so the race could still swing in either direction. Indian audiences should keep an eye on tyre wear and pit‑stop strategies, as the abrasive surface has historically forced teams into tough decisions.
Source: Formula 1
