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<strong>Qualifying:</strong> Bottas snatches pole, Leclerc crashes out

Qualifying: Bottas snatches pole, Leclerc crashes out

Published on 27 Apr 2019 16:53
5
By: Fergal Walsh

Valtteri Bottas has taken pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, beating teammate Lewis Hamilton to the top spot.

Hamilton ended the session less than a tenth down on the Finn, while Sebastian Vettel was third for Ferrari.

There was only one Ferrari competing in the final qualifying session, as Charles Leclerc crashed out at Turn 8 during Q2, eliminating himself after locking up.

There were two red flags during the session, one of which was caused by Leclerc, who admitted fault for the crash.

At the end of Q1, Robert Kubica hit the barrier at the same place Leclerc would crash, continuing Williams' miserable weekend.

Hamilton held the provisional pole spot after the first round of laps in Q3, but lost out to his teammate in the dying moments, with all of the top three improving their times.

Max Verstappen set his two fast laps in succession without pitting and held a front row spot before being pipped by Bottas and Vettel. The Dutchman will start the race from fourth on the grid.

Verstappen's teammate Pierre Gasly didn't advance beyond Q2, as he will start from the pit lane on Sunday for breaching regulations regarding the weigh bridge on Friday afternoon.

Gasly managed to top the opening qualifying session, but didn't set a timed lap in Q2. Sergio Perez was P5, and he will share the third row with Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso.

Lando Norris was the sole McLaren in the final stage of qualifying, and secured P7 for the start of Sunday's race.

Antonio Giovinazzi took his best ever result in qualifying, as he finished eighth, ahead of teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Giovinazzi received a strong tow from Vettel at both the start and end of his lap to out-qualify Raikkonen for the first time this season. However, he will start towards the back due to a 10-place grid penalty he picked up for taking on a third control electronics.

Renault and Haas struggled again, as Nico Hulkenberg and Romain Grosjean failed to advance out of the first session, joining the two Williams' and Lance Stroll in the drop zone.

F1Grand Prix Azerbaijan - Qualifying

Baku City Circuit - 27 April 2019

Driver

Team

Time

Difference

Laps
1

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

1:40.495

20
2

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

1:40.554

+0.059

21
3

Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari

1:40.797

+0.302

23
4

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing

1:41.069

+0.574

15
5

Sergio Perez

Racing Point

1:41.593

+1.098

17
6

Daniil Kvyat

Toro Rosso

1:41.681

+1.186

23
7

Lando Norris

McLaren

1:41.886

+1.391

23
8

Antonio Giovinazzi

Alfa Romeo Racing

1:42.424

+1.929

21
9

Kimi Räikkönen

Alfa Romeo Racing

1:43.068

+2.573

21
10

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

no time

11

Q2
11

Carlos Sainz jr

McLaren

1:42.398

+1.903

17
12

Daniel Ricciardo

Renault

1:42.477

+1.982

15
13

Alexander Albon

Toro Rosso

1:42.494

+1.999

18
14

Kevin Magnussen

Haas F1

1:42.699

+2.204

16
15

Pierre Gasly

Red Bull Racing

no time

5

Q1
16

Lance Stroll

Racing Point

1:42.630

+2.135

8
17

Romain Grosjean

Haas F1

1:43.407

+2.912

10
18

Nico Hülkenberg

Renault

1:43.427

+2.932

8
19

George Russell

Williams

1:45.062

+4.567

9
20

Robert Kubica

Williams

1:45.455

+4.960

8

abhidbgt

Posts: 283

Entertaining session - definitely but satisfying not so much. When will Ferrari catch a break!
Mercedes carry Sahara desert in their pockets it seems. I mean come on this is becoming ridiculous! It might turn out to be their most dominant season yet.
I admit if Leclerc was still in session it ma... [Read more]

1
Apr 27 2019 - 17:27

Photos Azerbaijan 2019

Open the whole photo album

F1 News Valtteri Bottas Charles Leclerc Ferrari Mercedes

Replies (5)

abhidbgt

Posts: 283
Entertaining session - definitely but satisfying not so much. When will Ferrari catch a break!
Mercedes carry Sahara desert in their pockets it seems. I mean come on this is becoming ridiculous! It might turn out to be their most dominant season yet.
I admit if Leclerc was still in session it may have been a different story. He generally had close to 3 tenths in him over Vettel.
It might turn out to be a processional race at the top too just like Chinese grand prix. I so hope I am wrong and Mercedes for a change have a bit of bad luck. But the efficiency with which they operate, it is extremely unlikely.
- + 1
- Apr 27 2019 - 17:27
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Agreed. We can only hope for a safery car and maybe for Max and Vet to cause some trouble for the Mercs.
  + 1
  
  Apr 27 2019 - 18:06
- abhidbgt
  
  Posts: 283
  Amen
  + 1
  
  Apr 27 2019 - 18:14
- abhidbgt
  
  Posts: 283
  Well it feels like I am a clairvoyant. :D
  + 0
  
  Apr 28 2019 - 16:06
Pistonhead

Posts: 556
Have to say the picture at the top of this thread is extraordinary.... well done to whomever took it.

It's going to be a phenomenal GP, watch LEC and VER go - I predict they will be battling at some point early.

Ferrari need a really strong showing as another 1-2 will present a daunting come-back ask - reliability issues aren't normally things Merc suffer with, if they don't win here today it's going to be a long haul for them to catch up.

Watch for HAM's start - he seems to have found something on starts he didn't have last season.
- + 0
- Apr 28 2019 - 10:33