…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first pole position of the season for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after beating out Max Verstappen in a three-way battle for pole.
Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing took third place, while Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz secured a spot on the second row of the grid.
Former McLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso shared the third row in fifth and sixth place respectively.
Leclerc expresses surprise and happiness
Leclerc expressed surprise at his team’s performance, saying that they had come into the weekend expecting to be ahead of Mercedes and Aston Martin.
He admitted that keeping the lead would be difficult, but was happy with his performance and the team’s prospects.
Qualifying moved to Friday due to sprint race
Qualifying for the Grand Prix was moved to Friday due to the sprint race being held entirely on Saturday.
The hour-long qualifying session lasted nearly 90 minutes following two red flags in Q1.
Despite the disruptions, Leclerc managed to secure the top spot with a best time of 1:40.203, nearly two tenths of a second clear of Verstappen.
Analysis and Commentaries
Leclerc’s pole position is a much-needed boost for Ferrari, whose performance this season has been underwhelming.
The team has struggled to compete with Red Bull Racing and Mercedes, and has not achieved a podium finish this year.
Leclerc’s performance in qualifying suggests that the team may have turned a corner and could be a contender in the race.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for its unpredictability, and it remains to be seen whether Leclerc can hold on to his lead in the race.
The tight and twisty Baku street circuit is notoriously difficult to navigate, and any mistake could result in a loss of position or worse.
It was a mixed day for McLaren, who promised an improved car for the Baku Grand Prix after a difficult start to the season.
While Lando Norris managed to secure seventh place, his teammate Daniel Ricciardo failed to make it into Q3.
Overall, the qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was full of surprises and drama, and it promises to be an exciting race.
The top six drivers are all within striking distance of the podium, and the unpredictable nature of the Baku street circuit means that anything could happen.