Leclerc, master pole in Baku in the very tense final four

He has the provisional pole. It could be the first of his F1 career, the first Spaniard since 2012. Carlos Sainz is closer than ever to achieving it. But he was left with honey on his lips by making two mistakes on the last attempt, when he was going for the final and decisive tenth, going to the limit with his Ferrari. The Spaniards saw how Charles Leclerc grabbed the first position ‘in extremis’ using a magical lapas an aspiring world champion, and as an absolute inspiration Perez (2nd) and Max Verstappen (3rd) they overtook him to leave the Spaniard in fourth place at the start of the F1 Azerbaijan GP this Sunday (1:00 pm / DAZN F1).

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Carlos was still uncomfortable with her. ferraricontinues its adaptation in a single-seater that fits like a glove Charles, but it forces Carlos to change his automatisms and his way of driving to get the best version of himself. That takes time, but Carloswho did not raise his head in his Free times, went back there from less to more.

closer than ever

This time, he was closer than ever to the blow. In Q3, after the first attempt, Sainz got the provisional pole in the exciting and very tight match between the top four, who fought in a big final duel that has lasted since they started a risky and dangerous game in walls in Q2. They played with fire. Being as close as possible can give you glory. Touching them removes you from the equation. The goal is to caress them, kiss, and cross the finish line as best as possible. Leclerc, Sainz, Verstappen and Perez. An equal match where hands are recounted, as should be in F1. They are all strictly walking that thin line that separates success from failure throughout Q3.

Sainz put himself first in the first attempt to frame. He had to finish because he knew he had the least loser by adventure. If a red flag appears, the pole belongs to him. In his favor what happened here in Baku last year, or on street circuits like Monaco for two consecutive years. In those classifications, on the last lap someone enters the wall and the pole will go to who is the fastest on the first test. But this time, with Sainz on the temporary pole, no red flags would benefit the Spanish.

On that last test, Carlos Sainz made two major mistakes. The first, entering turn 2 from the side, passes near the wall and suffers a stranger. This left the first productive sector.

“I was in the fight for pole, but going for the limit, that last tenth of the car I made a mistake on turn 2. I was a bit aggressive with the throttle. But that’s what there is. When you look for a pole these things happen ”, said Carlos.

And then, trying to recover, he went through the chicane. He had to abort his attempt and he was left in the hope that his rivals would not improve his time. But Charles, who is well into the Ferrari F1-75, completed a perfect lap on a circuit where he took the pole last year, and where in 2017 he won the Formula 2 race just days after death of his father.

Leclerc will start first after beating Pérez by 0.282, Verstappen by 0.347 and Sainz by 0.455. The race seemed exciting on a circuit with a long straight (two DRS zones) where possible to reach, where damage to the tires would be key. Also on a track where any mistake can cause a car safety to change everything. All is not lost for Carlos, who this Saturday missed a good opportunity to continue his upward line after his great career in Monaco. He will try to amend this in the race this Sunday. Sainz has already said: “If in any race the starting position doesn’t count much, it’s Baku”.

Alonzo, 10th

Fernando Alonso managed to get into the top 10 to reach the points goal this Sunday. Alpine returned to reality after a good Friday, once again fighting in the very tight central zone. Ocon remained in Q2, in 13th position, while the Asturian slipped into the Top-10, although he did not improve, remaining about 80 thousandths behind Vettel (9th), but more than a tenth behind Tsunoda (7th). ).

We’ll see if Alpine this Sunday can improve the tire damage in that match for points. Hamilton (7th) and Russell (5th) are portrayed as the great protagonists of the second division with the best speed every Sunday, along with a fighter Gasly who, starting in the 6th, will seek to make the thing for him. The excitement in that area of ​​the grid can be high. A race full of slipstreams and overtakes is expected, moving and with safety vehicles. Baku promised intense emotion. Let’s start the party.