The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set for a captivating showdown after a dramatic qualifying session that saw Charles Leclerc claim pole position. The Ferrari driver, fresh off his victory at the Italian Grand Prix, secured the top spot with a commanding performance, finishing .321 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Carlos Sainz Jr. rounded out the top three, putting Ferrari in a strong position for the race.
However, the qualifying session wasn’t without its share of surprises. Max Verstappen, the championship leader, found himself languishing in sixth place, leaving him with a challenging starting position. Lando Norris, currently second in the standings, faced an even more frustrating qualifying session, ending up in 17th. Norris had appeared to be on a lap fast enough to secure a top-15 position in the first part of qualifying, but a yellow flag, seemingly due to Esteban Ocon’s slow-moving Alpine, forced him to lift, costing him valuable time.
Adding to the excitement, there was a bizarre incident during the final part of qualifying. Williams driver Alex Albon came to a halt on his way out of the pits after discovering that a large piece of cooling equipment had been left in his air intake by the team. This unexpected stop ultimately led to a 10th place qualifying position for Albon, but he faces an investigation by the stewards.
Meanwhile, Albon’s teammate Franco Colapinto, in just his second F1 race weekend, impressed with a ninth-place qualifying. British teenager Oliver Bearman, who is filling in for the suspended Kevin Magnussen at Haas, also performed admirably, recovering from a crash in third practice to secure an 11th place starting spot.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling event, with Leclerc starting from pole position and Verstappen facing an uphill battle from sixth. The incident with Norris and the investigation into Albon’s stop have injected a dose of intrigue into the race, adding further excitement to an already dramatic qualifying session.
