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Alex Albon Crashes Out as Red Flag Halts Azerbaijan GP Qualifying

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Sep 20, 2025 9:55 AM ET

Alex Albon’s Azerbaijan GP weekend took a dramatic turn in qualifying after the Williams driver clipped the wall at Turn 1, bringing out the first red flag of the session.

Albon, who has shown promising pace in practice and looked capable of breaking into the top 10, saw his chances end early when he misjudged the entry to the corner and hit the inside barrier. The impact damaged his car beyond repair for Q1, forcing him to park up and retire from the session.

It was an unusual mistake at a part of the track not typically known for incidents, and the setback leaves Albon facing a difficult recovery on Sunday.

With qualifying suspended as marshalls cleared his stricken car, Williams’ hopes of converting their solid weekend form into a strong grid position took a major blow.

Albon has been one of the more consistent midfield performers this season, often punching above the team’s weight in qualifying. His top-10 pace in Baku suggested another standout performance was on the cards, making the crash all the more costly. Instead the Thai driver is now set to start from the back of the grid.

"I'm out. Sorry"

Gutting for Alex Albon #F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/4Vy8aAPqfD
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 20, 2025

Williams will now be left hoping for chaos in Sunday’s Grand Prix to salvage a result. Street races in Baku are known for unpredictability, but Albon will need a flawless drive — and perhaps some luck — to climb back into the points.

The Azerbaijan GP is set for an exciting showdown, with Albon’s crash already reminding fans how quickly fortunes can turn in F1.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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