Two weeks after his great disappointment and his fourth place at home in Monaco, Charles Leclerc took his fourth pole position in a row – the sixth of his season – this Saturday, in Baku, and will start at the top of the Grand Azerbaijan prices. He beat his Red Bull rivals, Sergio Pérez, recent winner on the Monegasque circuit, and Max Verstappen, current leader of the world championship.
” It feels good ! All pole positions are nice, but this one I didn’t expect. I thought Red Bull would be stronger. I’m very excited for tomorrow”, rejoiced the Ferrari driver after the day’s session, also insisting on the importance of the tyres, which had been in his sights in Monaco.
Verstappen wants to be confident
Sergio Pérez, currently in great shape, has therefore won second position on this circuit where he was crowned last year, after a completely crazy race, marked by the misadventures of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. “I hit the wall in different places, it was not an ideal situation for us. We had a little problem with the engine, and it’s such a power circuit… It cost us a few tenths,” reacted the Mexican driver on arrival.
The reigning world champion Max Verstappen wanted to retain the positive: “There were a few small mistakes, I suffered in general to find the right balance. But being second and third, as a team, gives good opportunities for tomorrow. He will try to get his fifth victory of the season and consolidate his position at the top of the general classification.
Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, will start in seventh position, just behind the first Frenchman Pierre Gasly. His compatriot Esteban Ocon (Alpine F1) set the thirteenth fastest time in qualifying.