Charles Leclerc on pole for Baku three-peat
Charles Leclerc went fastest in Formula 1 grand prix qualifying to take his third pole position in a row in Baku.
Charles Leclerc earned his first pole position for 2023 and his third in a row at Baku. (XPB Images)
The Friday session set the grid for Sunday's grand prix in the new sprint weekend format, with Leclerc setting an identical time to championship leader Max Verstappen on his first run in Q3.
The Ferrari driver went one better on his final run, setting consecutive sector records before he crossed the line fastest to earn his first pole of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
"[It feels] really good," said Leclerc.
"Especially considering the beginning of the season I've had. Obviously we haven't had the greatest of beginnings, but it's great to be back on pole."
"Honestly I did not expect it, I think we came into the weekend thinking that it would be a great result to be in front of the Aston Martin and the Mercedes, and we find ourselves on pole."
"Really, really happy with that," said Leclerc, who downplayed the pole position with the new sprint shootout to run on Saturday morning in addition to the sprint race, all before the grand prix on Sunday.
"We need to see tomorrow… I think we are a little bit more on the back foot there."
"Anyway, a really good surprise, and extremely happy with my lap," said the Monegasque.
Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Sergio Perez after qualifying in Baku. (XPB Images)
Running was interrupted in Q1, with the opening session suspended first when Nyck De Vries locked up and planted his AlphaTauri in the barriers at turn three.
The session resumed with ten minutes remaining, but was suspended once again as Pierre Gasly collected the same barrier and heavily damaged the right rear of his Alpine.
When running resumed it was Leclerc who cleared Verstappen for the fastest lap, with Zhou Guanyu, Nico Hulkenberg, and Kevin Magnussen all eliminated alongside Gasly and De Vries.
Q2 was more stable, with the trio of Leclerc, Verstappen, and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez trading blows at the top of the time sheets, while the rest of the field battled for the remaining positions to avoid being knocked out of the top ten.
George Russell was on the bubble and eliminated after qualifying 11th in what could be an omen of a difficult weekend for Mercedes. He was joined by Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, and Logan Sargeant as those eliminated after Q2.
The final session brought the top-ten shootout and it was a tight contest from the opening laps, with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc setting identical lap times at the top, with Verstappen ranked first as he set the time before his Ferrari rival.
With the cars refuelled and fitted with new Pirelli soft tyres, there was one final run, with Leclerc setting the blistering pace at the front as his rivals faltered.
Leclerc set a final lap time of 1:40.203, almost two tenths clear of Verstappen, with Perez in third and Carlos Sainz in fourth to lock out the first two rows for Ferrari and Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton was reassured in fifth after his teammate's early exit from qualifying, while Fernando Alonso was sixth for Aston Martin after suffering DRS issues down the long final straight. Lando Norris was seventh and Aussie Oscar Piastri tenth for McLaren at the team's first race with the full 2023 upgrade package, in a positive move forward for the Woking-based team.
Tyre analysis from Friday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix - click to expand. (Pirelli)
The results from qualifying are now cast aside as Formula 1 moves into the first ever sprint Saturday, with a shootout at 6.30pm (AEST) before the sprint race at 11.30pm. Charles Leclerc will then lead away the field for the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at 9.00pm on Sunday.
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2023 FIA Formula One World Championship - Round 4 Baku Qualifying
- Charles Leclerc
- Max Verstappen
- Sergio Perez
- Carlos Sainz
- Lewis Hamilton
- Fernando Alonso
- Lando Norris
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Lance Stroll
- Oscar Piastri (AUS)
- George Russell
- Esteban Ocon
- Alex Albon
- Valtteri Bottas
- Logan Sargeant
- Zhou Guanyu
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Kevin Magnusen
- Pierre Gasly
- Nyck De Vries - NC
