Max Verstappen labels Azerbaijan GP qualifying a 'disaster,' starts eighth

Max Verstappen saw Red Bull's encouraging pace disappear in a "disaster" qualifying in Baku, where he will start from eighth on the grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Verstappen had gone quickest in final practice Friday but was unable to contend in qualifying, ending Q3 in eighth place, 1.5 seconds off pole sitter George Russell.

Verstappen's teammate, Isack Hadjar, qualified fourth, 0.6 seconds quicker than the four-time world champion.

Russell was in a league of his own at the front and looks like strong favorite for victory, but Verstappen will start Saturday's race with two Ferraris, two McLarens, the other Red Bull and Pierre Gasly's Alpine in front of him.

When asked where he might be able to fight back to, Verstappen told Sky Sports: "I have no idea. We were in a really good place the whole weekend, and we had a disaster of a qualifying because of a lot of issues. Let's see tomorrow what we can do."

In the final seconds of qualifying, Lando Norris had gone off, prompting yellow flags around the part of the track where Verstappen was.

The Red Bull driver refused to blame that, saying the pace from practice just disappeared from the moment qualifying started.

"I mean [the yellow flags were] the last thing that happened," Verstappen said. "The whole qualifying I was just lacking top speed, half a second a lap off just on top speed, even compared to my teammate. The engine was just not working. So, that's one problem.

- Mercedes' George Russell takes thrilling pole for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- Kimi Antonelli hits wall and suffers early exit from Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying
- George Russell 'shocked' by Azerbaijan GP pole: 'The biggest margin in my whole career'

"Then in Q3, in my middle lap," he said, "I tried to start and the battery didn't charge, so you start the lap with half a battery, so you have to abort. Then you lose temperature because you don't have enough power.

"That then snowballs into the final lap. I started the lap, but no top speed, a yellow flag in my lap, not enough tire temperature, and then that's where you are."

Verstappen has a spotty qualifying record at Baku's circuit. Friday was the fifth time he has been outqualified by a teammate there, the most of any other venue on the calendar.