Leclerc Secures Fourth Consecutive Pole at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Ferrari‘s Charles Leclerc achieved his fourth consecutive pole position at the Baku City Circuit, surpassing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during the qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Leclerc delivered a remarkable lap time of 1 minute and 41.365 seconds, securing a lead of over three-tenths of a second ahead of Piastri in the final Q3 phase. His Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, completed the top three positions.

Red Bull drivers showed moments of competitiveness throughout the session, with Sergio Perez finishing fourth and Max Verstappen sixth. George Russell placed his Mercedes in fifth. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton faced difficulties getting his tyres up to optimal temperature, ending in seventh place. Fernando Alonso secured eighth for Aston Martin, while Williams drivers Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon filled out the Q3 order. Albon experienced an unusual delay caused by a fan attachment issue on track, prompting an investigation by stewards.

McLaren’s Lando Norris faced disappointment with a Q1 elimination after running over the kerbs and encountering slow traffic from Esteban Ocon. Norris will start the race in 17th position. Additionally, Alpine‘s Esteban Ocon experienced mechanical issues, resulting in a 20th place start.

The final practice session saw varied performances across the grid, with many teams hopeful for pole position. However, Ferrari held the advantage, with Leclerc narrowly escaping penalties from earlier incidents. The session also saw drivers strategically opting for soft tyres, enhancing their performance in Q1. Notable performances came from Williams’ rookie, Franco Colapinto, who posted times close to the leaders.

In the decisive Q3 phase, Leclerc delivered an unbeatable lap time during his first run. Subsequent rounds confirmed his pole, despite challenges from other drivers. The session concluded with Leclerc and Sainz securing Ferrari’s dominance, ahead of Red Bull and Mercedes competitors.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix race is scheduled to start at 1500 local time on Sunday, offering fans a thrilling follow-up to the competitive qualifying sessions.