Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying Round-up

Qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix displayed all the drama you could offer from big name crashes , rain and unexpected drivers in top positions. Hulkenburg kicked the session off, nearly clipping the dangerous turn 15 wall after having a small lock up into the braking zone. The first red flag fell soon after with Albon hitting the inside wall of turn 1, breaking his suspension and pulling over to the side. A disappointing result for the Thai who looked quick at times this weekend so far.

Q1 continued and Antonelli had many difficulties during it. He picked up a yellow flag infringement for failing to slow under double waved yellows for Albon, he reported he "didn't see them" ; this could have an impact on his starting position for the race. He also had an off at the final corner on his next fast lap which was deleted and left him last with 6 minutes left. Another red flag in Q1 hit when Hulkenburg had an issue in turn 4, breaking his front wing but managing to get the car going again and the session went on.

As the last laps went by a third red flag hit the track as Gasly went off at turn 4 but no damage yet his teammate had an even worse time at the same corner moments later, having a tank slap of oversteer mid corner and hitting the wall, the car in pieces and that ended Q1. Colapinto was in P16 and out, followed by Hulkenburg, Ocon, Gasly and Albon; 3 of those 5 causing a red flag.

Q2 literally picked up from where Q1 left off with Hadjar going straight on at turn 4 on his outlap with very cold brakes. Ollie Bearman caused yet again another red flag as he had massive wheelspin out of turn 2 and hit the wall with his rear right, breaking the suspension enough for him to pull over and retire.

Ferrari had an absolutely miserable day at the office because as the green flag hit the track again, Leclercs first push lap suffered a moment going into turn 1, forcing him straight on and comprising teammate Hamiltons lap too due to a yellow flag. Ferrari were desperately struggling and Leclerc again went straight on at turn 3 and hit the turn 2 wall on the lap after but still somehow found a lap to get him out of Q2. Hamilton, on the other hand didnt have enough fuel and his day was done. Oscar Piastri was another one who had a very eventful Qualifying, the championship leader touching the tech-pro wall of turn 15. 

Verstappen finished Q2 in P1 witn a 1.41.255 with the top 5 very close together, Antonelli rounding them out, only 2 tenths behind. The McLarens P2 and P3 at the moment which soon to all fall apart. Both Redbull cars and Racing Bull cars were through, very good effort from all of them. 

Q3 may have had the most dramatic time of them all as Russell already found his way down the turn 4 escape road and somewhat aggressively reversed back on to the track, very close to Norris who was pushing. This then ruined his lap and teammate Antonelli's too. Verstappen suddenly reported a "slippery track". The top 10 were in for a tough session.

This was truely evident when Charles Leclerc found the barrier at turn 15, locking up the front left and going head first in which wrapped up a terrible day for the Scuderia. Red flag yet again.

The conditions also caught out championship leader Piastri too as when the track was clear he also found himself in the wall at turn 3, going way too hot into the corner and resulting in a heavy impact, crunching the front of the car as he went in. Q3 really had it all.

Papaya teammate Norris was pushing to the maximum, through the drizzle and wind but clipping the turn 15 wall pretty hard but amazingly getting away with it but his lap time was already damaged which left him lower down the grid. 

Max Verstappen took an amazing pole position in Azerbaijan with a 1.41.117, followed by impeccable laps from Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson in P2 and P3, all the top teams having a crazy qualifying. Mercedes will be relatively happy with P4 and P5, Antonelli this time beating Russell but the Italian suffered a huge gust of wind on his lap which could have put him 1 or 2 places higher. Yuki Tsunoda also had his best Qualifying for Redbull too in P6, seemingly racing for his career now. Norris down in P7 , bad qualifying for him and Piastri as he will start 9th due to Leclerc crashing before him.

This was the full result for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying: