F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton in turmoil as F1 star hit with double FIA punishment

From title challengers to being off the pace of Mercedes by over 1.3 seconds. That's the brutal reality that Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari faced at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Friday afternoon.

Heading into F1's summer break back in July, things looked as though they were finally starting to really click for the seven-time world champion and his team, who posed a genuine threat to Kimi Antonelli for this year's world championship at the time.

➡️ READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari in turmoil after Mercedes humiliation at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

FIA announce Carlos Sainz penalty as Williams suffer Azerbaijan Grand Prix heartbreak

Carlos Sainz has been dealt an Azerbaijan Grand Prix blow after being hit with a grid penalty on a bittersweet Friday for Williams.

Williams have brought an upgraded package to the car this weekend, desperate to get out of a poor run that has seen them fail to score in the last eight grands prix weekends.

➡️ READ MORE: FIA announce Carlos Sainz penalty as Williams suffer Azerbaijan Grand Prix heartbreak

F1 Qualifying Results: 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix positions and times from Baku

George Russell took pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by nearly a full second in Friday afternoon's qualifying session.

Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri will start second and third respectively, but their lap times were more than eight tenths of a second slower than the utterly dominant Russell's best time.

➡️ READ MORE: F1 Qualifying Results: 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix positions and times from Baku

Max Verstappen admits he told Red Bull to 'p*** off' after Azerbaijan Grand Prix shambles

Max Verstappen has opened up on his frustrations during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Dutchman had looked strong in practice, even topping the timing boards in FP3, but will start down in eighth for Saturday's race after a nightmare qualifying session.

➡️ READ MORE: Max Verstappen told Red Bull to 'p*** off' after Azerbaijan Grand Prix shambles

F1 finale deadline decision revealed as 'Imola getting ready'

F1 team bosses Ayao Komatsu and Mattia Binotto have revealed the new deadline to make a decision on the location of the 2026 season finale.

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East means that the Qatar-Abu Dhabi double header is expected to downsized and moved, with the presumptive champion Kimi Antonelli ending his record-breaking season at Imola instead.

➡️ READ MORE: F1 finale deadline decision revealed as 'Imola getting ready'