Charles Leclerc will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the Saturday sprint’s DRS-powered issues as he starts on pole for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Tonight live from 9pm AEST!
Ferrari’s Leclerc was also on pole for the sprint race but the uber-powerful Red Bull rear wing allowed Sergio Perez to pass him on the lengthy main straight in Baku and claim victory.
Arguably Leclerc should’ve finished third but damage to Max Verstappen’s other Red Bull saw him stuck behind the two race leaders, though still fast enough to hold onto the last podium spot.
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With Verstappen starting ahead of Perez in Sunday night’s race the two-time champion will be hoping to get past Leclerc quickly and run away with the victory.
He’ll also be hoping to avoid more lap one contact after several incidents with Mercedes’ George Russell in the opening stages of the sprint left him fuming.
Australia’s Oscar Piastri will start 10th in his McLaren, hoping for another points finish.
Perez claims Sprint race in Azerbaijan! | 02:06
F1 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX Starting grid
1 Charles LECLERC Ferrari 1:40.203
2 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull Racing +0.188
3 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull Racing +0.292
4 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari +0.813
5 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes +0.974
6 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin +1.050
7 Lando NORRIS McLaren +1.078
8 Yuki TSUNODA AlphaTauri +1.378
9 Lance STROLL Aston Martin +1.408
10 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren +1.408
11 George RUSSELL Mercedes 1:41.654
12 Alexander ALBON Williams +0.164
13 Valtteri BOTTAS Alfa Romeo +0.605
14 Logan SARGEANT Williams +0.741
15 Guanyu ZHOU Alfa Romeo 1:42.642
16 Nico HULKENBERG Haas F1 Team +0.020
17 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas F1 Team +0.775
18 Pierre GASLY Alpine +2.211
19 Nyck DE VRIES AlphaTauri +12.640
Pit lane Esteban OCON Alpine
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