Antonelli Hits the Wall in Baku as the Title Race Tightens

Kimi Antonelli will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 16th on the grid after crashing in qualifying, the BBC reported from Baku. The championship leader said he was "very mad" about the accident, which allowed his Mercedes team-mate George Russell to take pole position. It is the first time this season that the Italian has handed his closest rival a clear weekend advantage.

The crash reframes a title fight that had, until Friday, looked like Antonelli's to lose. Russell's pole is worth little on a street circuit where overtaking is difficult and safety cars are frequent, but it puts the Briton in position to cut the gap at the top of the standings. For Mercedes, the result is a reminder of how narrow the margin between the two drivers has become.