F1 REPORT:Close Qualifying for the Team at the Azerbaijan GP

Close Qualifying for the Team at the Azerbaijan GP

In the lead-up to Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the qualifying session saw Charles Leclerc of Ferrari securing pole position, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri lining up next to him on the front row. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will start from the third and fourth rows, after a challenging session that saw both improve on their second runs but fall short of the front rows.

In the initial runs of Q3, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton placed 4th and 7th, respectively.

Russell was just three-tenths of a second behind Leclerc’s fastest time, while Hamilton struggled to bring his tires to the optimal temperature. Although both drivers posted improved lap times in their second attempts on fresh soft tires, their positions remained unchanged. Sergio Perez of Red Bull managed to improve and take the 4th spot, pushing Russell to 5th. A mere 0.069 seconds separated Russell from the third position.

Prior to qualifying, the team prepared by lining up in the pit lane before the start of Q1 to kick off their program. Both Russell and Hamilton began the session with two laps on medium tires, followed by a switch to soft tires. Russell finished the first qualifying session in 9th, while Hamilton improved to 5th after his second lap. This performance safely saw them through to Q2.

In Q2, both drivers started on used soft tires, followed by a push lap on fresh sets. Russell finished the second session in 4th, while Hamilton finished in 9th, securing their places in the top-ten shootout in Q3.

The final practice session (FP3) earlier that Saturday was disrupted by several red flags, mirroring Friday’s first practice. Esteban Ocon’s Alpine suffered a technical issue, halting his session, while Haas’ Oliver Bearman crashed at Turn 1, causing further delays. Light rain and cooler temperatures also played a role in slowing down the session. Mercedes took a cautious approach, delaying their runs to avoid potential disruptions.

Both Mercedes drivers had two sets of soft tires for FP3, but their first attempts were hampered by the red and yellow flags. Hamilton’s second push lap was abandoned, leaving him 10th in the session. Russell, however, managed to improve and take the top spot, finishing just 0.013 seconds ahead of Leclerc.

With time to prepare overnight for Sunday’s race, the team focused on strategy and improving tire management. The race was scheduled to start at 15:00 local time at the Baku City Circuit.

George Russell’s Perspective

Russell expressed satisfaction with his qualifying laps, stating that they felt strong, even though the team didn’t quite have the pace to challenge for pole.

After topping the times in FP3, Russell acknowledged that the performance was somewhat flattering due to the timing of their session. Heading into qualifying, the team anticipated being in contention just outside the top three, and Russell found it frustrating to have missed out on P3 by only half a tenth of a second.

Starting from 5th, he considered it a decent position, although he was realistic about Ferrari’s pace on street circuits, expecting it to be difficult to compete for a victory. However, Russell remained hopeful that they could fight for a podium position.

Lewis Hamilton’s Reaction

Hamilton found the qualifying session disappointing, especially after a promising day in Friday’s practice sessions where he expected to compete for the front two rows.

The main issue, he explained, was his struggle to bring the tires up to the correct temperature, which hindered his performance. Despite the setback, Hamilton remained optimistic about making progress in the race, citing a slightly different tire strategy compared to other teams.

He emphasized the importance of managing the rear tires, which are prone to wear on Baku’s demanding street circuit. If they could do so, he believed a better result was possible on race day.

Toto Wolff’s Reflections

Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff echoed the frustrations of his drivers, admitting that while Ferrari looked strong all weekend, they had hoped to battle for a spot on the second row. Despite making overnight improvements and a strong showing in FP3, the team fell short in the final qualifying session due to a compromised out lap, missing out on P3 by just half a tenth of a second.

Wolff noted that Russell seemed more comfortable throughout the session, while Hamilton’s struggles with tire temperatures held him back. Nonetheless, Wolff remained hopeful for Sunday, as the team lacked clarity on their relative race pace compared to their competitors.

Andrew Shovlin’s Analysis Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin provided insight into the overnight changes aimed at optimizing the car’s performance, not just for qualifying but for Sunday’s race as well. The goal was to focus on rear tire management, a critical aspect of success in Baku.

After a disrupted Friday practice, Russell appeared more comfortable in FP3, while Hamilton struggled with the balance of the car. Despite topping FP3, Shovlin knew the team wouldn’t be fighting for pole. However, they expected to challenge for the second row in qualifying. Unfortunately, slower out laps on their final runs in Q3 resulted in lower tire temperatures, costing Russell a few places and leaving him and Hamilton in a tight midfield group.

Looking ahead to the race, Shovlin acknowledged that the lack of long-run data from Friday left everyone’s race pace somewhat uncertain. He hoped the changes made overnight would help the team fight for a podium finish on Sunday.

2024 Azerbaijan GP Qualifying Results

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:41.365

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:41.686 (+0.321)

3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 1:41.805 (+0.440)

4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – 1:41.813 (+0.448)

5. George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:41.874 (+0.509)

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:42.023 (+0.658)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:42.289 (+0.924)

2024 Azerbaijan GP FP3 Results

1. George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:42.514

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:42.527

3. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:42.737