Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull and has also been linked with McLaren.

The seven-time world champion was just 0.064 seconds off clinching his first pole position since Hungary in July 2023.

The Silver Arrows have won every race this season and Russell ensured they were back on top after Lando Norris topped Friday practice for McLaren.

Russell will share the front of the grid with Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, with McLaren occupying the second row.

Russell was the pre-season championship favourite but fellow Mercedes driver Antonelli has won three straight races.

The Italian clinched a third successive victory at the Miami Grand Prix.

Sunday’s race was moved forward by three hours to 1300 local time as F1 bosses fought to beat the forecast thunderstorms later in the afternoon.

Verstappen has been a huge critic of F1’s new rules and hinted at the last round in Japan that he could walk away.

Gianpiero Lambiase, known as ‘GP’, is understood to be poised to take up a position with rivals McLaren.

Norris is celebrating becoming just the 11th driver from Britain to win an F1 title.

Norris trails McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri by 34 points in the drivers’ title race.

Norris led the way in the concluding running prior to qualifying.

The British driver set a new record around the streets of Monte Carlo to beat local hero Charles Leclerc to pole by 0.109 seconds.

Norris fell short in his quest to take his first title last year after Max Verstappen saw off his challenge to land his fourth consecutive crown.

Piastri and team-mate Lando Norris set the two fastest times in final practice.

Carlos Sainz took pole for Sunday’s race.

Championship leader Max Verstappen will start sixth on the grid in Baku.

Max Verstappen claimed victory ahead of McLaren driver Norris after a safety car was brought out at the Canadian Grand Prix

Senna had eight consecutive poles over the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

Verstappen was imperious around the high-speed corner circuit at Suzuka.