Leclerc earns pole for the Azerbaijan GP while title challenger Norris will start 16th

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Charles Leclerc qualified on pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Max Verstappen was sixth on Saturday.

Lando Norris is set to start Sunday's race 16th following a session that could have a big impact on the Formula 1 title race.

Ferrari's Leclerc, who won the last race in Italy, was fastest by .321 seconds from McLaren's Oscar Piastri, and the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jr. was third. Pole marked a dramatic turnaround for Leclerc, who crashed in the first practice session Friday.

“It hasn’t been an easy weekend because (of) the crash in FP1, which didn’t make me lose confidence. I knew that the pace was there," Leclerc said. "But you’ve got to build back up to speed.”

Leclerc is on pole in Baku for the fourth year running, but he has yet to win the race.

Norris was on what seemed to be a lap fast enough to progress from the first part of qualifying as one of the top 15. But he had to slow for a yellow flag that was apparently for Esteban Ocon's slow-moving Alpine. Norris' time from his first lap missed the 15th-place cutoff by .137 of a second.

“There was nothing I could do” about the yellow flag, Norris said. “Frustrating, but now we look ahead to tomorrow and see where we can maximize the result.”

Norris was initially 17th in qualifying but moved up a place on the grid hours later when Pierre Gasly, who had been 13th, was disqualified for breaking rules on fuel flow rates.

Norris is second in the standings, 62 points behind Verstappen with eight races remaining. He has been steadily cutting into Verstappen's lead, finishing ahead of the champion at three of the last four races, including a win at Verstappen's home Dutch Grand Prix.

McLaren confirmed before the race weekend that it would favor Norris over Piastri to help his title challenge, with Norris suggesting the Australian would be asked to make way for him on track in some situations.

That almost certainly won't happen Sunday with 15 places separating the teammates in qualifying. Piastri is aiming to fight for a second career win.

“Our race pace is good, but the Ferrari is certainly not slow,” he said.

Defending champion Verstappen, who hasn't won any of the last six races, seemed better in Baku but was sixth and said he'd clipped a curb at “the worst time it could have happened.” Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was fourth, beating Verstappen in qualifying for the first time all year.

Verstappen said the Red Bull was improved from the Italian Grand Prix, where he finished sixth, but questioned whether the team's attempts to refine the setup ahead of qualifying made things worse.

"On a street circuit you need to be comfortable and confident to be able to attack corners and it is harder to do this when the car is a bit more unpredictable," he said.

George Russell was fifth for Mercedes, ahead of Verstappen, with Lewis Hamilton seventh and Fernando Alonso eighth for Aston Martin.

There was a bizarre incident in the final part of qualifying when Williams' Alex Albon stopped on his way out of the pits to remove a large cooling fan that the team left in his air intake. Albon qualified 10th and the team was fined 5,000 euros ($5,500). Throwing the cooling fan out of the car as Albon did was the “least worst option” because it avoided further disrupting the session, the stewards' ruling said.

Albon's teammate Franco Colapinto, in only his second F1 race weekend, was ninth in the best qualifying result for an Argentine driver in 42 years.

British teen Oliver Bearman, standing in at Haas for the suspended Kevin Magnussen, was 11th after recovering from a crash in the third practice Saturday morning.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco in action during a Formula One Grand Prix practice in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco in action during a Formula One Grand Prix qualifying in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco in action during a Formula One Grand Prix qualifying in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Haas driver Oliver Bearman of the United Kingdom walks through the pit lane during the Formula One Grand Prix qualifying in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Ali Haideric/Pool via AP)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands enters the pit lane during the Formula One Grand Prix qualifying in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Ali Haideric/Pool via AP)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain in action during a Formula One Grand Prix practice in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco in action during a Formula One Grand Prix qualifying in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

LONDON (AP) — The Chicago Bears secondary could be down another starter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday after cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was listed as doubtful because of a calf injury picked up in practice.

The Bears had already ruled out safety Jaquan Brisker because of a concussion from last week. They have a new concern with Stevenson unlikely to play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“A plant-point-and-drive (drill) and he felt something in his calf,” Chicago coach Matt Eberflus said Friday about the injury sustained the day before in practice. “We’ll see where it is tomorrow morning and go from there, but right now he is doubtful.”

Stevenson didn't practice Friday at the team's countryside facility in Ware, England. Jaylon Jones likely will be his replacement.

“He’s played for us a bunch. He’s one of those guys, like Elijah (Hicks), that’s been in our system, he knows it in and out,” Eberflus said.

Hicks is set to start in Brisker’s absence.

“The coaches have been with those guys and the technique and fundamentals are there,” Eberflus said. “They’re going to stand on solid ground. The other guys trust them, too, because they've been in there and produced and played for us. So, we feel good about both of those guys.”

Backup cornerback Terell Smith (hip) had already been ruled out.

Offensive lineman Teven Jenkins (ankle) was limited in practice Friday “but he looked good, so we’re hopeful there,” Eberflus said. Jenkins' official game status is questionable.

The Jaguars arrived later than usual — at 11 a.m. (1000 GMT) on Friday after adjusting their travel schedule because of Hurricane Milton. They had already canceled a press conference for Friday and rescheduled it for Saturday morning at their hotel and practice space in Watford, England.

Eberflus declined to discuss how that might impact Sunday's game. The Bears arrived on Tuesday.

“We’re going to focus on how we go about our business and getting ourselves ready to play the game,” he said.

The Jaguars have played 11 times in London.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1), left, and safety Kevin Byard III (31) participate in a NFL football training session in Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, ahead of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1), participates in a NFL football training session in Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, ahead of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (99), right, and defensive end Montez Sweat (98), participate in a NFL football training session in Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, ahead of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (99), right, and defensive end Montez Sweat (98), participate in a NFL football training session in Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, ahead of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) participates in a NFL football training session in Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, ahead of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) participates in a NFL football training session in Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, ahead of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (5) pulls in a reception as Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (29) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus speaks during an interview after a training session in Ware, England, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, ahead of the game between Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)