Leclerc grabs pole in Baku for the fourth time, while Verstappen faces a setback in sixth, and Norris exits early.
After three free practice sessions dominated by three different teams, it is challenging to discern the pecking order ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix F1 qualifying. Four teams could be within a few tenths of each other, and others might spring a surprise.
McLaren F1, dominant in recent races, appears to have lost momentum, while Red Bull seems to be making a comeback at the forefront. However, drivers from these two teams agreed on one point after Friday’s initial sessions: the Ferraris seem very fast in Baku.
As the pole sitter for the last three editions of the Azerbaijani GP, Charles Leclerc naturally assumes the role of favourite in this exercise, but his teammate Carlos Sainz, along with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, Max Verstappen, and even Sergio Pérez, who is always comfortable in Baku, should also be considered. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could secure good positions, though perhaps not the pole.
The weather was overcast this Saturday morning, but rain is not expected on the streets of Baku. Nevertheless, the teams lack the usual precise data on this matter. Indeed, the French government has advised its citizens against travelling to Azerbaijan, and Météo-France, which provides this service, is thus not present.
Pérez received a warning for impeding Sainz, the same penalty the latter received yesterday for similar actions. Meanwhile, Guanyu Zhou will start at the back tomorrow as he has received non-regulation parts for his Sauber C44’s engine.
Charles Leclerc was also summoned to the stewards for not slowing sufficiently under a yellow flag during FP3. This could result in a post-qualifying penalty.
14:00: The FIA has ultimately issued Leclerc with a simple reprimand. This is a more severe punishment than a warning, but it does not trigger a penalty.
Q1 – 18 minutes
Valtteri Bottas set the first benchmark at 1’44″876, and Yuki Tsunoda improved on it with a time of 1’44″531, unlike Daniel Ricciardo. Alex Albon also did better, clocking in at 1’44″207, and Franco Colapinto outperformed his teammate by three-thousandths at 1’44″204.
Max Verstappen unanimously topped the time sheets with a 1’43″644, while Lance Stroll took the provisional fourth position ahead of Oliver Bearman, with Pérez leading in 1’43″436. Leclerc slotted between the two Red Bull drivers, with the McLarens, Oscar Piastri ahead of Lando Norris, securing the fourth and fifth fastest times respectively.
Fernando Alonso recorded the provisional sixth fastest time, and Sainz missed his first timed lap due to an error. Verstappen reported issues with a “skipping” rear end on the track. Nico Hülkenberg also claimed the provisional sixth position, while Sainz moved up to second.
Colapinto achieved an impressive third fastest time, and Oliver Bearman clocked the 11th provisional time. Albon moved up to eighth, and Piastri advanced to fifth place. Norris also improved, taking that provisional fifth spot.
Sainz made a mistake, running straight into an escape road. Pérez reclaimed the top of the leaderboard with a 1’43″213, but Leclerc immediately bettered it with a 1’42″775. Russell, previously running on mediums, secured the second fastest time on soft tires.
Hamilton posted the fourth fastest time, while several drivers were still in attack mode, notably the Red Bull F1 drivers who were at risk of elimination. Ricciardo moved up to seventh, and Tsunoda recorded the best second sector time to secure the fourth fastest.
Valtteri Bottas took the provisional tenth place with a tow from Zhou, who had little to gain from this session. Esteban Ocon was slowed after hitting the wall. Albon recorded the second fastest time, Colapinto the third, and Hülkenberg slotted between the two Williams drivers!
Bearman claimed the ninth fastest time, and Verstappen moved up to third. Stroll captured the ninth position, and Gasly third! Piastri posted the third fastest time, but Norris was caught out by a yellow flag during his fast lap and was eliminated in 17th position!
Hamilton is fifth, Sainz 12th, but the major shock of this Q1 was the elimination of Norris, almost certainly ending the Briton’s chances of catching up with Verstappen in the championship standings.
Eliminated were Ricciardo, Norris, Bottas, Zhou, and Ocon.
Q2 – 15 minutes
Sainz topped the leaderboard with a 1’43″225, just eight thousandths ahead of Albon, and Leclerc was two-tenths behind on worn tires. Russell improved to 1’42″785, beaten by Piastri with a 1’42″598. Hamilton recorded the fifth provisional time, and Bearman placed third.
Colapinto provisionally held ninth place behind Hülkenberg and ahead of Alonso. Verstappen set the pace with a blistering 1’42″042, and Pérez followed closely in second. Russell requested an earlier second run, anticipating a plateau in track conditions.
Stroll was unable to improve beyond the 15th fastest time, trailing behind Gasly and Tsunoda. The Ferrari drivers, echoing Russell’s strategy, opted for an earlier exit. Sainz climbed to third, while Leclerc further excelled, securing the second fastest time, just 0.014 seconds shy of Verstappen.
Leclerc expressed frustration over the lack of a tow from Sainz during his fast lap, a tactic they had practiced throughout the weekend, though Sainz countered that it was Leclerc who had mistimed the move.
Gasly secured the provisional seventh position, outpaced by Albon. Russell ascended to fourth, and Tsunoda claimed the eighth spot. Hamilton was seventh after his latest fast lap, with Stroll managing only 13th.
Colapinto achieved the fifth fastest time, bested by Alonso, and Bearman finished with the 11th fastest time, leading to his elimination. Verstappen made another precautionary fast lap but did not improve on his best time.
Eliminated were Bearman, Tsunoda, Gasly, Hülkenberg, and Stroll.
Q3 – 12 minutes
Russell set the initial benchmark with a 1’41″962, with Hamilton trailing by half a second. Piastri bettered that with a 1’41″827, but Leclerc immediately surpassed it with a 1’41″610. Sainz recorded the second fastest time, and Alonso secured sixth.
Verstappen could do no better than fifth, over six tenths behind Leclerc. Albon was seventh fastest and Colapinto eighth, while Pérez edged ahead of Verstappen.
Unfortunately, Williams mistakenly sent Albon back onto the track with the cooling fan still attached to the airbox. The driver stopped on track to remove the obstructive piece and managed to restart without causing a yellow flag in the first sector.
Russell improved yet remained fourth, and Hamilton did likewise without advancing. Piastri moved up to second, and Sainz did not improve beyond third. Leclerc bettered his time to 1’41″365. Alonso moved ahead of the Williams drivers, and Colapinto improved to pass Colapinto. Verstappen bettered his time, but Pérez achieved even more.
Thus, Leclerc clinches the pole for the fourth consecutive year in Baku, ahead of Piastri. Sainz and Pérez will start from the second row, followed by Russell and Verstappen. Hamilton and Alonso, with nine world titles between them, will line up on the fourth row, ahead of Colapinto and Albon.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-24 | 1:42.775 | 1:42.056 | 1:41.365 |
| 02 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL38 | 1:43.033 | 1:42.598 | 1:41.686 |
| 03 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari SF-24 | 1:43.357 | 1:42.503 | 1:41.805 |
| 04 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB20 | 1:43.213 | 1:42.263 | 1:41.813 |
| 05 | George Russell | Mercedes W15 | 1:43.139 | 1:42.329 | 1:41.874 |
| 06 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB20 | 1:43.097 | 1:42.042 | 1:42.023 |
| 07 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes W15 | 1:43.089 | 1:42.765 | 1:42.289 |
| 08 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR24 | 1:43.472 | 1:42.426 | 1:42.369 |
| 09 | Franco Colapinto | Williams Mercedes FW46 | 1:43.138 | 1:42.473 | 1:42.530 |
| 10 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW46 | 1:42.899 | 1:42.840 | 1:42.859 |
| — | —————- | ————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari VF-24 | 1:43.471 | 1:42.968 | |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT VCARB 01 | 1:43.337 | 1:43.035 | |
| 13 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault A524 | 1:43.088 | 1:43.179 | |
| 14 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas Ferrari VF-24 | 1:43.101 | 1:43.191 | |
| 15 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR24 | 1:43.370 | 1:43.404 | |
| — | —————- | ————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 16 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT VCARB 01 | 1:43.547 | ||
| 17 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL38 | 1:43.609 | ||
| 18 | Valtteri Bottas | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C44 | 1:43.618 | ||
| 19 | Guanyu Zhou | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C44 | 1:44.246 | ||
| 20 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault A524 | 1:44.504 |
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Baku Pole to Leclerc Again; Verstappen, Norris Struggle. f1 2024 Baku Pole to Leclerc Again; Verstappen, Norris Struggle. f1 Baku Pole to Leclerc Again; Verstappen, Norris Struggle.
