F1, Azerbaijan Gp: Leclerc’s encore in the mini-qualification

SENT TO BAKU. After the pole position, the mini pole: Charles Leclerc continues to fly between the walls of the Baku street circuit. He likes the new regulation, he had said it since the eve, and the track is one of his favorites with those narrow passages between the houses that remind him of the narrow streets of Monte-Carlo.

Let’s review the new regulation in force in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and in all the GPs in which the sprint race will also be held (Austria, Belgium, Qatar, USA-Austin and Brazil): qualifying is brought forward from Saturday to Friday. Leclerc set the best time and tomorrow (Sunday, the start at 1pm) will start on pole ahead of the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Perez and teammate Sainz. Let’s move on to Saturday: it’s the mini format day. An abbreviated qualifying for a 100km sprint race starting at 3.30pm. Leclerc has again set the best time and will therefore take the lead in the sprint race again ahead of the pair Red Bull (Perez and Verstappen in that order), Russell (Mercedes), Sainz (Ferrari), Hamilton (Mercedes), Albon (Williams ), Alonso (Aston Martin), Stroll (Aston Martin) and Norris (McLaren).

On the final lap, Leclerc crashed in turn 5 and thus damaged Sainz’s last attempt. “Sorry, I pushed too hard. Too bad for Carlos who was improving. We have to confirm the result in the race, but let’s be realistic: so far we have always been behind Red Bull. However, we think we have improved the car a lot: we are Ferrari, we are here to fight at the top».

Verstappen reiterates his aversion to the sprint race, perhaps because he is in trouble on the flying lap: «The pace is good, but the format is terrible». Sainz is also in a negative mood, but as a matter of feeling (with the car): «Nothing new, I continued to struggle. I’m in trouble, I’m running in damage limitation. Unfortunately, if there is something wrong, there is no time to fix it».

Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes, thus evaluates mini-qualifying and sprint race: «We have to try things to see if they work for the public, for the promoters and for the TVs». The race promises to be lively, as it has always been in the six previous editions. An accident to any Sargeant, a safety car or a red flag is enough to upset the positions on the track. More than the format, strategies, quick reflexes and luck will weigh.