Azerbaijan GP: Lando Norris surprisingly eliminated in Q1

Lando Norris will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 17th place after a qualifying mistake dealt a significant blow to his title hopes.

The McLaren driver was eliminated in the first qualifying session (Q1) after going too wide at Turn 16 on his final lap and crossing the white line that marks the edge of the track.

He then aborted his lap, so his first attempt in Q1, which only managed 17th place, was considered his best performance of the session.

The last five drivers were eliminated from qualifying in Q1 and Norris therefore did not make it to Q2 or Q3 to fight for the top starting positions.

Norris is 62 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship after gaining 16 points on the Red Bull driver in the last two rounds.

He will need to maintain a similar lead over Verstappen over the remaining eight laps to catch his title rival's lead, but as he starts from 17th place, it will be very difficult for him to achieve that this weekend in Azerbaijan.

The Q1 elimination was Norris' first of the season and his first since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year.