Formula 1: Pole hat-trick for Leclerc in Baku

2023-04-28 12:58:30

Leclerc and Verstappen fought a tough duel throughout qualifying. The Monegasque was faster in Q1, the Dutchman in Q2. In the decision, both drivers achieved exactly the same time in the battle for the best grid position. Verstappen would have held pole at this point due to the better time in Q2. In the last attempt, Leclerc fought back with a dream lap at the limit and took the 19th pole position of his career.

“I’m surprised. We’re on pole, but we mustn’t forget that we’re still behind Red Bull in the race,” Leclerc explained, also explaining the problem of qualifying, which was held for the first time on Friday: “We only had one practice session to get used to it.”

No more Baku poles for Red Bull

Meanwhile, Red Bull is not on pole position for the first time in fourth qualifying this season. The seventh attempt to put the car in the best starting position in Baku was also unsuccessful. “It’s always difficult to drive a lap without making a mistake in Baku. You have to hit everything perfectly here. But second on the grid is okay, we know we have a good car for the race. Let’s see what we can do in the sprint on Saturday,” said Verstappen.

ORF timetable

Saturday:
10:20 a.m.: Sprint shootout
3:10 p.m.: Sprint
(Start: 3.30 p.m.)

Sunday:
11:40 a.m.: Preliminary reports
12:30 p.m.: The race
(Start: 1 p.m.)

Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko was not surprised by the pole for the “Scuderia”. “We knew that Ferrari is quick on a single lap. We don’t have the falling temperature in the tires under control. We should be in a much better position in the race. Ferrari has the most powerful engine and can run at full power for one lap. I hope they can’t do that on Sunday,” said the recently 80-year-old.

Accidents involving De Vries and Gassly

Qualifying for the race already showed that the sprint shootout will be a tightrope walk. Nyck de Vries caused the first interruption on Friday at the notorious street circuit. The 28-year-old Dutchman crashed his Alpha Tauri head-on into the track barrier. After an almost 15-minute break, Pierre Gasly destroyed his Alpine shortly afterwards in the same place.

“It was difficult today to go into Q1 with just one practice session. That was challenging,” explained third-placed Perez. “Third place is disappointing for me. The last lap wasn’t clean. We knew Ferrari would be the biggest challenge. Charles drove a great lap.”

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Final result after Q3:
1.	Charles Leclerc	MON	Ferrari	1:40,203
2.	Max Verstappen	NED	Red Bull	1:40,391
3.	Sergio Perez	MEX	Red Bull	1:40,495
4.	Carlos Sainz	ESP	Ferrari	1:41,016
5.	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	Mercedes	1:41,177
6.	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Aston Martin	1:41,253
7.	Lando Norris	GBR	McLaren	1:41,281
8.	Yuki Tsunoda	JPN	Alpha Tauri	1:41,581
9.	Lance Stroll	CAN	Aston Martin	1:41,611
10.	Oscar Piastri	OUT OF	McLaren	1:41,611
Out in Q2:
11.	George Russell	GBR	Mercedes	1:41,654
12.	Esteban Ocon	FROM	Alpine	1:41,798
13.	Alexander Albon	THA	Williams	1:41,818
14.	Valtteri Bottas	FIN	Alfa Romeo	1:42,259
15.	Logan Sargeant	USA	Williams	1:42,395
Out in Q1:
16.	Zhou Guanyu	CHN	Alfa Romeo	1:42,642
17.	Nico Hülkenberg	GER	Haas	1:42,755
18.	Kevin Magnussen	THE	Haas	1:43,417
19.	Pierre Gasly	FROM	Alpine	1:44,853
20.	Nyck de Vries	NED	Alpha Tauri	1:55:282