Author: user user

Uzodimma boosts public schools? with 6,375 new teaching, non-teaching staff

Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo, on Thursday, inaugurated 6,030 newly recruited teachers and 345 non-teaching staff into the state civil service.

In a speech at the ceremony in Owerri, Uzodimma described the inauguration as a ‘major step towards revitalising the education sector’.

He said the recruitment was designed to address acute teacher shortage and restore dignity to the teaching profession in the state.

He said, ‘I want to make Imo teachers the most important civil servants in the state,’ and promised that their salary payments would be top priority to the government.

The governor disclosed that the new teachers had been deployed to public schools within their native communities to ensure equitable distribution of personnel and bridge the rural-urban staffing gap.

He announced plans to distribute digital teaching devices to the teachers, while charging them to protect school infrastructure, maintain hygienic learning environments, and foster close ties with parents and community leaders.

Earlier in a remark, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, described the mass recruitment as a ‘historic milestone’, stemming from a comprehensive needs assessment across all the 27 LGAs.

Ikegwuoha said the initiative was built on the broader educational reforms in the state, including the recovery and renaming of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, as well as the establishment of new tertiary institutions.

Responding on behalf of the new teachers, Mrs Philomena Maduako thanked the governor for creating the job opportunity and pledged their commitment to raising educational standards, in line with the state policies.

The event featured the symbolic presentation of computer tablets to selected teachers, while others were directed to receive theirs after their biometric enrollment.

Union Bank modernises credit card issuing with BPC SmartVista to deliver next-generation payment experiences in Sri Lanka

Union Bank has modernised its credit card business with BPC SmartVista, introducing a unified payment platform that gives the bank greater control over product development, integrations, data and customer experience. This initiative is an integral part of the Bank’s digital transformation agenda.

Union Bank Chief Technology Officer Nisala Kodippili said, ‘With the new platform in place, the Bank now has a highly configurable environment that can be adapted to evolving business requirements without lengthy development cycles. A broad set of open APIs also simplifies integration with core banking, digital channels and surrounding systems, providing the capabilities needed to deliver more innovative features and services to customers. For customers, the upgrade enables innovative and personalised card products, stronger transaction security, integrated fraud protection and the faster introduction of new services.’

Union Bank Vice President – Head of Cards and Retail Products Malinda Perera said, ‘For Union Bank, the project offers greater operational control, reduced third-party dependency and more flexibility to respond to market demand. With the new platform now operational, Union Bank expects its credit card portfolio to grow substantially year-on-year over the coming years. Building a stronger credit card business required us to take greater ownership of the technology and data behind it.’

BPC Banking Technologies Country Director Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and The Maldives Subash Chandra Bowse said: ‘Sri Lanka’s banking market is evolving quickly, and institutions need payment infrastructure that supports both control and innovation. Union Bank has taken an important step in modernising its credit card business, and we are proud to support the bank with SmartVista platform that helps it launch new propositions faster, strengthen security and scale for long-term growth.’

Moving away from a legacy environment hosted outside the country gives Union Bank greater control and the Bank is now better positioned to deliver secure, relevant and enhanced credit card experiences to our customers. Looking ahead, Union Bank plans to continue expanding its card issuing capabilities, broaden international scheme support and introduce new customer propositions as its credit card business grows.

Europe’s AML overhaul offers lessons as Nigerian banks tighten identity checks

Nigeria’s banks are winning ground against identity fraud, and a sweeping change to anti-money laundering rules in Europe suggests where the next battle will be fought.

Losses to electronic payment fraud fell to 25.85 billion naira in 2025, down 51 percent from 52.26 billion naira in 2024, according to data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). The number of reported fraud cases also fell, to about 67,500.

NIBSS attributed much of the decline to tighter verification and coordinated industry controls, which it said prevented about 20 billion naira in potential losses.

The threat has not gone away. Social engineering remains the most common fraud technique, NIBSS said, and Lagos accounted for 63 percent of losses.

Regulators are responding. From May 1, 2026, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced amendments to the Bank Verification Number (BVN) framework, including a temporary fraud watchlist, stricter enrolment rules and limits on how often customers can change their personal data.

The reforms follow Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025, after more than two years of work to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework.

In Europe, a larger overhaul is under way. From July 10, 2027, the European Union’s

Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR) will apply directly in all 27 member states, replacing a patchwork of national laws with a single rulebook.

A new supervisor, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), has operated from Frankfurt since 2025 and will begin directly supervising some of the largest cross-border financial institutions in 2028.

The most significant change may not be in the rules themselves but in how firms must prove they follow them.

Under the new regime, banks are expected to show evidence that every alert was reviewed, who reviewed it, how long it took and why a case was closed or escalated. Written policies alone will carry little weight.

‘Nigeria has shown that tighter identity checks work. Fraud losses halved in a single year,’ said Teodor Rogojina, chief executive of Qoobiss, a Romanian RegTech company that works with banks and fintechs in Europe. ‘The next step, and the one Europe is now writing into law, is being able to prove to a regulator, on demand, exactly what happened with every customer and every alert.’

That approach relies on connecting systems that often sit apart. In many institutions, identity checks, sanctions screening and transaction monitoring run in separate tools, while investigations are tracked in spreadsheets and email.

European lenders are increasingly moving to platforms that bring those signals into a single case, with a full audit trail. Qoobiss offers one such tool, governance, risk and compliance software that pulls screening results, transaction alerts and identity events into one investigation workflow.

Identity verification is also changing. As fraudsters use generative AI to create fake documents and deepfake selfies, banks are layering document authentication, biometric face matching and liveness detection in a single automated check.

Qoobiss’s own identity verification product (qoobiss.com/products/ontrace) combines these checks and supports identity documents from a wide range of countries, including African passports.

The shift is visible closer to home too. Across the continent, African banks are already turning to digital identity verification to cut onboarding fraud as more customers open accounts remotely.

For Nigerian lenders, the European model carries a practical lesson. BVN and NIN integration has helped close the door on many fake identities at onboarding. The harder task now is monitoring what happens after an account is open, and documenting every decision along the way.

Analysts say that matters beyond domestic supervision. Nigerian banks and fintechs with operations in Europe, or with European correspondent banking partners, will increasingly be asked to show controls that meet the new EU standard.

‘Leaving the grey list was a major achievement,’ Rogojina said. ‘Staying off it, and building trust with international partners, will depend on being able to show that the controls work every single day, not just during an assessment.’

More than a Muscian: Inside Moses Matovu’s passion and contribution to football

This year, three sportsmen have been murdered in cold blood. In May, Sydney Gongodyo, the rugby forward with Stanbic Black Pirates and Uganda Rugby Cranes died at the hands of a mob in Ntinda. Last month, SC Villa captain David Owori succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by a group of thugs in Makindye on his way back home. Sadly, another Jogoo family member, legendary Afrigo Band leader, Moses Matovu, affectionately known as Papa Moi by his adoring music fans, passed away today after being attacked in Kibuli. He was 77 years old.

Two names stand out prominently in Kibuli. Prince Kassim Nakibinge comes top. As the titular head of Muslims aligned to Kibuli, he is respected all over the place, and his word on all affairs in Kibuli is usually final.

Matovu comes next. As the leader and face of Afrigo Band, he also ranks high in football circles. This is because as a youth, Matovu was a footballer in the 1960s and early 1970s, featuring for clubs like Kibuli United, Nakivubo Boys, Express FC, Police FC and Buganda Pronvince. Later on, when Nakivubo Boys gave birth to SC Villa, the most successful football side in Uganda’s history, Matovu switched allegiance to the Jogoos.

Kibuli and Villa are basically the same. Being a ‘lifetime’ resident of Kibuli, probably the proximity to Villa Park played a role in him turning into one of the most recognisable faces behind the team, which he served in different capacities. Matovu served as Villa treasurer in 2013-2014 and at the time of his death, he was a club Trustee alongside big names like Hajji Omar Ahmed Mandela, Fred ‘Guy’ Kawuma, Franco Mugabe, William Nkemba and MacDusman Kabega.

Meeting the man

I lived in Kibuli for close to 10 years. And as a footballer, Villa Park was my home, featuring for Jogoo Young, Villa’s junior side. It is here that I met Badru ‘Bady’ Ssajjabi, son to the legendary musician and former Simba SC playmaker. Ssajjabi and I struck a friendship and on one of those evenings walking back home, he suggested that I escort him to his house to pick something then we continue on the journey. And when we reached their home, I found Matovu seated alongside other Afrigo members, preparing to rehearse for an upcoming music show. That was in 2007.

I greeted them and he was happy to know I was studying at university and also playing football. And he gave me some serious counsel to stick to my education because Uganda’s football does not pay, referring to his son Ssajjabi that he was hustling with life because he chose football instead of concentrating on academics. ‘Mutabani soma nnyo, omupiira gw’e Uganda tegukulimba. Tolaba mukwano gwo Badru bwe bimwokya?’ he said in Luganda.

Through the years, I kept meeting Matovu especially at his home in Kibuli, because I used to move with his son a lot. When I quit playing football, I served on the SC Villa executive committee as the media relations manager. He was the club treasurer. Matovu was a very unpredictable person. Some days he would show up in mood to give constructive ideas, engage stakeholders and offer solutions to a number of challenges facing the club. On other days he would come in a very resigned, nonchalant mode, with an ‘I don’t care’ attitude.

Sometimes he could walk into Villa Park, sit alone, watch training and move away without saying a word to anyone. On other days he would be a bubbly figure. That is the myth of a man he was.

Humble to the dot

Prominent as he was, Matovu stayed glued to his Kibuli roots. His house, just between the IUIU Kampala Campus and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Kibuli, remained somewhat below the supposedly big brand that the fans paid huge sums to watch on those glittering musical stages. He clearly lived a humble life that defines many Kibuli residents. It is no wonder death found him a short distance away from his home.

Kibuli is one of the least developed places in Kampala. Ironically, it is just less than 5km from the city centre. There is a belief that because it hasn’t attracted developments like bars and other happening places, maybe because of it’s large Islamic population and some key Islamic properties including Kibuli secondary school, Kibuli mosque and Kibuli hospital, it has lagged behind on so many fronts.

Probably befitting for people like Matovu who loved a life far away from never ending social drama. He clearly loved the low profile freedom it gave him. Even many people around the neighbouring zones of Agip, Depot, Lubuga, Kitooro and Corner House didn’t know his house. They used to call it ‘Ku Afrigo’. Probably that is a man that wanted the band to have a bigger name than him.

Sanctions loom as Man City found guilty of 114 Premier League financial charges

Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges relating to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations following an investigation into the club’s financial conduct.

The reported decision by an independent commission, first disclosed by David Ornstein of The Athletic, could have significant sporting and financial consequences for the Premier League champions, with sanctions yet to be determined.

Manchester City are expected to appeal the verdict and any sanctions imposed, while the full range of punishments remains available to the commission.

A City spokesperson told The Athletic that the Premier League process remains ongoing and subject to strict confidentiality, adding that the club’s position remains consistent with its February 2023 statement.

‘The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence,’ the spokesperson said.

The charges relate to alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, including accusations that City failed to provide accurate financial information concerning revenue, sponsorship income, and payments to players and coaches.

The Premier League also accused the club of breaching UEFA’s financial fair play regulations and its own profitability and sustainability rules. City have consistently denied the allegations.

Sanctions could include points deduction, expulsion

If the reported findings are confirmed and sanctions imposed, Premier League Rule W.51 gives the independent commission a broad range of options.

Potential punishments include a reprimand, financial penalties, and points deductions, while the most severe sanction could be expulsion from the Premier League.

A points deduction could be imposed going forward or applied retrospectively, potentially affecting City’s previous league records and titles.

James Hill, a legal director specialising in sports regulatory matters at Onside Law, told The Athletic in 2023 that a points deduction would generally be expected to apply going forward rather than alter historical title outcomes.

Under Rule W.51.7, the commission can combine sanctions or impose other penalties it considers appropriate. Any punishment must be proportionate to the breaches and could be challenged on appeal.

Eight-year financial dispute

The investigation began after Der Spiegel published leaked financial documents concerning City in November 2018.

Man City were accused of failing to provide complete and accurate financial information and of breaching rules covering sponsorship income, player and manager payments and related-party transactions.

The club has previously faced sanctions over its conduct in UEFA proceedings. In 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced a UEFA fine against City to £8.8 million after finding that the club had failed to cooperate with the governing body’s investigation.

City also reached a settlement with the Premier League in September 2025 over disputes concerning its associated party transaction rules.

During the period covered by the charges, City won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and the Community Shield.

The club has since won five more Premier League titles and its first Champions League under Sheikh Mansour’s ownership.

Pep Guardiola, who left City after 10 years in charge, had previously said he would remain at the club even if sanctions resulted in relegation; Enzo Maresca replaced him.

The reported verdict now shifts attention to the commission’s sanctions and the subsequent appeal process, which could determine Manchester City’s sporting and financial consequences.

Collaboration across borders: Stop looking for like-minded people

HERE’S a thought that may make some association leaders uncomfortable: What if the people we most need to collaborate with are precisely those who don’t think like us?

We often talk about collaboration as if its greatest virtue were consensus, i.e., bringing like-minded people together to work towards common goals. Our recent conversation with Dr. Gillian Whalley on the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) podcast ‘Association Matters’ challenged that comfortable assumption. For Gillian, professor of Clinical Sonography and Cardiology at the University of Otago in New Zealand, the real magic of collaboration happens when different perspectives collide. Sometimes there is friction. And that, she says, is precisely where the really great ideas can emerge.

Gillian has experienced this firsthand through her work in research and on professional boards in Australasia and internationally. Different people bring different experiences, cultures and ways of seeing a problem. The challenge is not to eliminate those differences, but to learn from them.

For association leaders, this is particularly relevant today. Our members are changing. Their expectations are changing. The competitive environment is changing. And what worked yesterday cannot automatically be assumed to work tomorrow.

Gillian’s scientific background offers an important lesson: be guided by evidence and be willing to change your mind when the evidence tells you to.

That same openness applies to international collaboration. Gillian cautions against assuming that approaches developed in Western or Eurocentric environments can simply be transplanted elsewhere. Her experience in New Zealand has taught her much from indigenous culture about respect, inclusivity and different values.

This leads to a fundamental principle for associations: global collaboration should not be about exporting answers. It should be about listening, learning and co-creating solutions.

Gillian cited her work with the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine, the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, and the American Society of Echocardiography. Through these relationships, associations share educational resources, training, guidelines and professional expertise with organizations in countries with fewer resources.

But the most important part is how they do it. They do not simply assume they know what local communities need. They ask.

That is a powerful lesson for any association contemplating international partnerships: listen first, contribute second.

There is another message from Gillian that should make association leaders sit up: loyalty alone is no longer enough to retain members. She belongs to five professional associations herself and admits that she periodically questions whether the value she receives justifies the cost.

For younger generations, the question is even more direct: What’s in it for me?

Associations must demonstrate value, express meaningful values and show that they are actively contributing to solving problems, not simply maintaining traditions.

Perhaps, then, the future belongs not to associations that build the biggest networks, but to those that build the most diverse and meaningful relationships.

Because when we collaborate across borders, we do more than expand our networks. We expand our thinking.

Minister: Tinubu’s second term will be transformative

The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, said a second term for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will allow the administration to deepen its transformation of Nigeria.

Momoh said this at Nomeh Unateze, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, where the South East Development Commission (SEDC), in partnership with the Enugu State Government, flagged off a 200-hectare integrated agricultural development project.

The minister said the project was an example of the implementation of policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration, particularly in food security, regional development, and economic transformation.

He said the administration had embarked on changes aimed at improving the country, adding that another opportunity for President Tinubu would mean ‘complete transformation’ of the sectors his administration has been turning around.

‘Another opportunity for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means transformation. Another opportunity means complete transformation of all the things that have been happening,’ Momoh said.

The minister explained that the SEDC project conforms with the policies of the Federal Government and the presidential priorities, particularly the priority on food security.

‘What you are doing here today conforms with the ministry’s policy and the Federal Government’s policy. We are transforming policy into implementation now,’ he said.

Momoh praised the SEDC for what he called its capacity, vision and commitment to translating the objectives for which regional development commissions were established into concrete projects.

The minister cited the SEDC and the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) as two of the newly established commissions that have demonstrated capacity and vision.

He urged other commissions to accelerate the implementation of their mandates.

According to him, the commissions were established as government institutions to drive development and were expected to work in accordance with government policies and regulations.

The minister also praised SEDC’s Managing Director Mark Okoye for his consultation and engagement with various stakeholders before embarking on major interventions.

He said the agricultural project would incorporate food processing and other aspects of the commodity value chain.

‘It is not just sufficient to develop the land, but we must go beyond that to embark on processing,’ Momoh said.

The minister noted that the initiative could help to revive the commodity ecosystem for which the Southeast was historically known.

The 200-hectare project, which is the pilot component of SEDC’s Southeast Agro-Development Programme, is designed to integrate agricultural production with mechanisation, processing, training and market access. The commission says the project is intended as a model for wider agricultural interventions across the five Southeast states.

Momoh hailed Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for providing the land for the project and applauded the cooperation between the state government, the SEDC, and communities in the state.

The minister said the collaboration demonstrated the importance of state and regional institutions working together to bring development initiatives closer to the grassroots.

American survival thriller ‘Heart of the Beast’ in 13 Lankan cinemas

American survival thriller film ‘Heart of the Beast’ will be screened in 13 cinemas in Sri Lanka from today.

They are Kandy City Centre, Liberty by Scope Kollupitiya, SCOPE Cinema – Colombo City Centre, SCOPE Cinema – Havelock City Mall, PVR Cinema, Ram Cinema, Regal Cinemas, Lite Cinemas, JP Cineplex, Areena Cinema, Vijaya Cinema, Milano Diamond and Regal Cinemas.

Directed by David Ayer and written by Cameron Alexander, the film stars Brad Pitt.

The film follows retired Army Special Forces veteran James Belmont (Pitt) and his traumatised military combat dog Odin, who are stranded deep in the freezing Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. With no rescue coming, they must endure a gruelling 58-mile trek to safety, battling unforgiving terrain, deadly wildlife, and their own shared combat trauma. The survival thriller highlights the deep, unbreakable bond of loyalty between a man and his canine companion under extreme stakes.

Mercedes-Benz’s 140-year legacy of automotive excellence; Toyota plus BenandBen

THE recent Mercedes-Benz Philippines curated mall display at the Power Plant in Rockwell Center, Makati City, drew raves from car buffs steep in tradition.

The two-day event formed part of the brand’s 140 years of ‘innovation global celebration’ as it showcased the vehicle’s enduring presence in the mobility business.

Visitors enjoyed complimentary refreshments, take-home exclusive brand merchandise and an experience 140 Seconds of Comfort-an in-vehicle immersive activity.

EXQUISITE

REAFFIRMING the brand’s pioneering invention of the world’s first automobile and its lasting legacy of innovation, Arianne Colene Jalalon said the curated display was an exquisite blend of classic, innovative and diverse luxurious lineup featuring one sustainable electric vehicle, two powerful internal combustion engine vehicles, and one classic model such as the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ AMG Line, Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4MATIC, Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 AMG Line, and a classic 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE.

Leading the model display lineup was the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ AMG Line.

This model is the brand’s all-electric midsize sedan that delivers up to 682 kilometers of driving range, featuring a perfect blend of luxury and sustainability.

The second model was the Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4MATIC. It is a compact crossover SUV, running on a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine with 48V mild-hybrid assist.

The third star was the Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 AMG Line. This model is a versatile 7-seater compact SUV that combines luxury, space and performance, together with that signature sporty AMG styling.

TIMELESS

TO commemorate the brand’s 140 Years of Innovation, following the successful execution last August, the September Welcome Home Roadshow featured a classic model as the fourth display vehicle-the timeless 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE, which embodies the iconic brand’s vision of delivering uncompromised engineering, world-class prestige, refined craftsmanship and lasting durability that Mercedes-Benz started for the world in 1886.

Customers had the golden chance to win raffle tickets to the 2026 WTA Singapore Tennis Open Raffle set from September 21 to 27, with no less than our very own Alex Eala as one of the leading stars in the tournament.

Colene invites you to visit Mercedes-Benz showrooms in Greenhills, Alabang, or Cebu, and enjoy an exclusive opportunity to test drive Chedeng’s exceptional lineup. For more information, call 87845-000, 8553-6334 and 0921-9358574, or visit www.mercedes-benz.ph.

Mercedes-Benz Philippines operates under IC Star Automotive Inc. and offers a range of high-end models, including sedans, coupes, SUVs, and electric vehicles. The company has dealerships in key locations in Greenhills San Juan, Alabang and Cebu.

TOYOTA PLUS BENandBEN

ALLANA Faith Rufo reports that twin brothers Paolo Benjamin and Miguel Benjamin from Filipino indie folk-pop band BenandBen are bringing Filipino creativity to the regional spotlight as part of Toyota Motor Asia’s Move Your World Beat, a new culture initiative developed with creative partner Virtue Asia.

Through this campaign, the duo will join artists from across Asia in transforming everyday Toyota vehicle sounds into original musical compositions that celebrate creativity, collaboration and cultural expression.

The platform brings together established and emerging artists from across Asia to collaborate, experiment and inspire the next generation to express their cultures through contemporary sound. The initiative also serves as an ongoing project where Toyota empowers Asia’s creators to tell stories through music while celebrating both cultural heritage and innovation.

UNIVERSAL

‘AT its heart, ‘Move Your World’ is about Toyota’s commitment to the communities in Asia-the freedom to move, and the thrill and joy of moving forward together. With ‘Move Your World Beat,’ we bring that same spirit to music, a universal language that unites our communities and moves us all a little closer,’ said Jaja Ishibashi, general manager of Toyota Motor Asia.

‘By supporting creators and bringing different voices together, we hope to inspire new forms of expression and show that when we move together, we can create something greater than any one of us could achieve alone.’

As the Philippine representatives, Paolo and Miguel join a regional lineup of creators which includes Malaysia’s Belle Sisoski, Pakistan’s Natasha Noorani, Singapore’s Shye, Thailand’s Valentina Ploy and Vietnam’s 2pillz.

Beyond this year’s rollout, ‘Move Your World Beat’ is intended to continue as an ongoing platform, with each participating artist’s content contributing to future collaborations that celebrate creativity, community and cultural exchange across the region.

For more information, follow Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook, Instagram and X, and join the ToyotaPH community on Viber.

PEE STOP

Mark Luigi Bautista says Toyota is also back to supporting sports as it recently brought the B. LEAGUE Manila Games 2026 to the MOA Arena in Pasay that featured the Manila Games 2026, a landmark two-game preseason series between Levanga Hokkaido and Gunma Crane Thunders.

‘Basketball has a special way of bringing people together, and we are proud to support an event that allows Filipino fans to experience B.LEAGUE basketball here in Manila,’ said Elijah Marical, First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operation of Toyota Motor Philippines.

‘The series was a celebration of the passion that Japan and the Philippines share for the sport, the friendship between our two countries and the memorable experiences that basketball can create for fans and families.’ Cheers!

George Russell takes pole for Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The qualifying session for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix has concluded. Mercedes driver George Russell set the fastest time of the session to take pole position.

Charles Leclerc will start from second, while Oscar Piastri will line up third.

Interestingly, the Baku City Circuit has been a successful track for George Russell this year. The British driver also set the fastest times in both free practice sessions.

Russell’s teammate and the favorite for the season, Kimi Antonelli, made an early exit from qualifying. The Mercedes driver crashed into the wall at Turn 1 of the Baku circuit during the first qualifying session. The impact damaged the car, preventing Antonelli from continuing.

The drivers can expect a more intense battle in tomorrow’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.