Source – Formula1.com
During Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc won his fourth straight pole position at the Baku City Circuit by defeating Oscar Piastri. Meanwhile, Lando Norris’s other McLaren had drama as they were eliminated in the first round of qualifying.
In a dramatic qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc delivered a masterclass, securing pole position for Ferrari with a sensational lap time of 1m 41.365s. Leclerc, whose affinity for the Baku City Circuit seems unmatched, carved out a three-tenth advantage over McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the final Q3 phase, marking his fourth consecutive pole at this challenging venue. The Monegasque driver’s previous poles in 2021, 2022, and 2023 set the stage for yet another impressive display of precision and speed in 2024. His Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, rounded out the top three, completing a strong showing for the Scuderia.
Red Bull, typically dominant in recent seasons, showed moments of competitive pace throughout the session, but in the end, they had to settle for fourth and sixth. Sergio Perez, a two-time winner in Azerbaijan, managed to outperform teammate Max Verstappen, a rare occurrence in recent races. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ George Russell split the Red Bulls, securing fifth on the grid after a consistent and strong performance. It was an intense and highly competitive session, but ultimately, Leclerc’s Ferrari proved too quick for the field.
Lewis Hamilton, despite his immense experience and seven world titles, seemed to struggle with tire temperature throughout the session. The Mercedes driver could only manage seventh place, as he fought to find grip and balance on the fast street circuit. Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, secured eighth, while the Williams duo of Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon rounded off the Q3 participants, placing ninth and tenth, respectively.
The day was bittersweet for Williams. Colapinto, the high-flying rookie, put in an exceptional performance, particularly for a team that has struggled in recent years. Albon, however, had a much more complicated session. The Thai-British driver’s final lap was marred by a bizarre mishap when he was sent out with an airbox fan still attached to his car. Although Albon managed to stop on track, remove the fan, and throw it to the waiting marshals, the time lost in the incident meant he was unable to set another competitive lap. Post-session, the stewards were set to investigate the peculiar incident, leaving Albon and the team with a sense of what could have been.
Ollie Bearman, another impressive young talent, came agonizingly close to a spot in the pole position shootout but ultimately fell short in Q2, finishing just a tenth behind Albon. Bearman expressed his frustration over the team radio upon returning to the pits, particularly as he managed to outqualify his experienced Haas teammate, Nico Hulkenberg. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly found themselves in 12th and 13th, respectively, with Tsunoda handed a fine for speeding in the pit lane. Hulkenberg and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll were the slowest drivers in the second segment of qualifying, rounding out a tough day for their teams.
The biggest shock of the day, however, came in Q1, where title challenger Lando Norris was eliminated. The McLaren driver, who had shown promise in practice, encountered a disastrous session, starting with a wild ride over the kerbs and concluding with a slow-moving Esteban Ocon blocking his final flying lap in the last sector. Norris will now have to start the race from 17th position, right behind his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who now drives for Red Bull. It was a tough blow for Norris, who had been expected to challenge at the sharp end of the grid this weekend.
The bottom end of the grid saw the Kick Sauber pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu in 18th and 19th, respectively. Zhou’s day was particularly frustrating, as he is already set for a back-of-the-grid start due to penalties. Esteban Ocon’s day went from bad to worse, as his Alpine slowed in the final stages of Q1, leaving him stranded in 20th place.
As the dust settled on the Baku qualifying session, all eyes were on Leclerc, who seems to have a special connection with this circuit. His blistering lap, combined with Ferrari’s improved form, raises the tantalizing prospect of a thrilling race ahead. With Piastri showing his own impressive pace and Red Bull lurking just behind, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises to be a spectacle of speed, strategy, and fierce competition. However, with Norris starting so far down the order, and Ocon and Zhou also enduring tough qualifying sessions, the midfield battle could prove just as exciting as the fight for victory.
