Azerbaijan GP: Russell takes crushing pole as Antonelli crashes

George Russell delivered a stunning display of speed to seize pole position for Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli suffered a dramatic Q1 exit after hitting the barriers. Russell had looked ominously quick throughout Thursday’s practice and turned that promise into his fifth pole of the season at Baku, producing a final 1m42.526s that left Charles Leclerc second and Oscar Piastri third. The result was made all the more striking by Mercedes’ contrasting fortunes. Antonelli clipped the inside barrier at Turn 1 during Q1, damaging the front-left suspension and bringing his qualifying to an…