Max Verstappen Can Approach the Qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a Positive Feeling. The Reignning World Champion was Second Fastest on the Street Circuit Behind Lando Norris and Got Involved in the Fight At The Front. Oscar Piastri was Third.
After Friday’s Free Practice Sessions, It was Anyone’s Guess How the Balance of Power would be this weekend in Baku. Ferrari Set Fast Times in the Second Practice, in which McLaren was missing at the front due to, among other things, a crash by norris. The restored order on Saturday with the fastest time: 1.41.223. That makes the briton a slight favorite for pole position, but it is close.
Verstappen Conceded Two Tenths to Norris and was Just Slightly Faster than World Championship Leader Piastri and Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari. The Briton was the only representation of the Italians at the Front. Charles Leclerc, who starts from pole the past four times in this grand prix, did not set a fast time. Yet the Monegasque is again a candidate for pole because the speed is certainly in the ferrari. Whether That is Enough to Beat Verstappen and the McLarens Remains to Be Seen.
Mercedes is watching from a distance. Andrea Kimi Antonelli Did Well with a Fifth Time, But Six Tenths Off Norris’s Time. The Italian was faster than his teammate George Russell, who may claim as an excuse that he is far from fit. The Briton Skipped Media Day on Thursday. It is clear from his voice over the radio that he is not driving in perfect health. On top of that, he is far from satisfied with the car.
Verstappen Already was on Friday, and that continued in the third practice. The Red Bull of the Dutchman Seems Well Balanced Through The Corners in Baku. The Car only Loses Out To The Ferraris On The 2-kilometer-long Straight. With a small reear wing, they have therefore fully focused on top speed.
The Qualifying Seems to be an exciting session, and not only because of the tight margins. Pirelli has brought the softest c6 tire as a soft tire to baku, but the medium tire seems potentialy faster over a lap. The Chann This Tire With The Yellow Sidewall Will Be in Action on Saturday Afternoon is Therefore High.