Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Qualifying Report
Another race weekend and in this post we’re writing about the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying Report which saw Lewis Hamilton take pole ahead of the race tomorrow.
Valtteri Bottas will start the race in 2nd place and Kimi Raikkonen will start the race in 3rd place with his team-mate, Sebastian Vettel starting the race in 4th.
Let’s take a look at the reaction from teams and drivers in the post below.
Mercedes – Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying Report
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton – “My pole lap in Montreal was pretty special but I think this one here tops that. My first run in Q3 was actually really good but I was a bit greedy in the last corner, locked up and cost myself time.”
“After the red flag, there was a lot of pressure on that final lap – all weekend we’ve struggled to switch the car on over a single lap but it was an all or nothing moment so I just gave it everything I had.”
“Valtteri was on a great lap as well so when I came across the line and saw that I had pole, it was such a good feeling – even if that time had only been enough for P2 it was a lap to be proud of.”
“We were struggling yesterday but we made a lot of changes overnight – a big thank you to the team who stayed late last night to get the car to where it is today, they did a fantastic job!”
Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas – “It’s disappointing to lose pole as that was the target today – it was looking good before the late red flag but Lewis produced a great lap and mine just wasn’t good enough.”
“That final run in Q3 was the first time that we tried to do a flying lap on the first lap, because of the temperatures, and I couldn’t get them to work as well as Lewis did – I just couldn’t find the grip out there.”
“What I’m most proud of today was the huge effort by the team put in overnight to switch on the car. We were quite lost on Friday but we made some changes and turned the weekend around.”
“Going into the race we have a fantastic starting position and I’m expecting a good fight with Lewis.”
Toto Wolff – Team Principal
“This is a fantastic qualifying performance after a tricky start to the race weekend yesterday.”
“The team did some great work overnight to put the car right in a sweet spot – and put both drivers in a strong performance. We had planned to do one long run in Q3 because that looked like the best way to get the maximum from the tyres.”
“Tomorrow is another story again, the race pace is a bit of an unknown after some scrappy sessions yesterday but we are in the best starting positions.”
“Now, we need to make a clean getaway then we can make the most of our opportunities in the race.”
McLaren – Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying Report
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso – “We did a good job today in terms of preparing for the race – we only used one set of tyres and put in low fuel and also did some checks.”
“We know that we’re not competitive around here but the race is going to be long and demanding. We’ve seen many mistakes from almost every driver and we need to avoid making any of those tomorrow.”
“In these kinds of Grand Prix’s – we need to try and finish the race and get some data for them and keep developing the car.”
“We need to make sure that we can keep away from the walls tomorrow – let’s hope that we can end up in the points.”
Stoffel Vandoorne
Stoffel Vandoorne – “I think I was always destined to start 19th this weekend!”
“There were no big surprises for us in qualifying today – our focus this weekend has always been on the race and today doesn’t mean too much, really.”
“We always expected to struggle a little bit around here and we’ve not been on the pace at all this weekend so let’s just see what happens tomorrow.”
“This is a tricky circuit – the long straights mean that the brakes get cool and the tyres get cool so the braking zones are very difficult to get right.”
“There are definitely some opportunities to be had out on the track – we’ve seen drivers going off in every session, so we’ll be looking to benefit from those.”
Red Bull – Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying Report
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen – “The car felt very good during qualifying, I struggled a little bit to get the tyres working in sector one but everything else felt like it was going in the right direction.”
“I think we realistically had a shot at P3 today which on this track would have been a fantastic result.”
“The Red flag didn’t really have an impact on me, I had just about completed my first lap when the session was restarted, just like everyone else. On my final lap, in Q3, I was going about three tenths quicker than my best time but then I lost gear sync in the second sector – it cost me a few tenths which was frustrating and meant that we could not challenge for third.”
“I’m hopeful that we can get on top of the issues overnight and be ready for tomorrow. Once again Mercedes have made a big step today so I don’t think we can get close enough to them but we will be looking to challenge Ferrari, come the race.”
“It would be great to get on the podium – that’s the goal.”
Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo – “It’s obviously frustrating when you crash in Q3 but when you are trying to give everything and get that last little bit out of the car.”
“I knew that in Turn six it was a corner where I could do better, I was trying to carry more speed but I lost the rear on the exit and hit the wall.”
“The rear was coming round and I tried to drive out of it and keep going but I hit it – the wall kind of comes back round a bit.”
“It’s not the walls fault, obviously, I’m to blaming the wall! There was no other reason, I was just pushing hard and on the edge of grip. It’s a shame, I thought we could have been fighting at the front today but Mercedes were really quick.”
“This weekend, Max and I have been really happy with the balance of the car and it’s responding well so we have made definite progress – I’m not disheartened for tomorrow.”
“I think so much can happen round here and even if it is a one stop race – I’m sure that we can make progress.”
Lots more coming soon!
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