Charles Leclerc of Ferrari continued his impressive run of form by claiming his fourth consecutive pole position at the Baku street circuit. The 26-year-old Monegasque driver has expressed his affection for the track, describing it as one of his favourites for the season.
Despite facing a challenging start to the weekend, Leclerc demonstrated exceptional speed and precision during the crucial qualifying session on Saturday. From the start of the session, Leclerc appeared to be in a league of his own.
Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz finish 2nd and 3rd
His performance was marked by a clear edge over his competitors, culminating in a decisive pole position with a margin exceeding three-tenths of a second. McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz completed the top three, with Piastri securing second place and Sainz taking third.
Leclerc's path to the pole was not without its difficulties. The weekend had been characterized by a series of disruptions and challenges, but the Ferrari driver remained resolute. In his post-qualifying interview with F1TV, Leclerc acknowledged the hurdles he faced but conveyed his satisfaction with the result.
"It's one of my favourite tracks of the season, I really like it. It hasn't been an easy weekend because obviously the crash in FP1. But it didn't make me lose the confidence, I knew the pace was there. In FP2 we had a problem with a new part on the car and we lost another half an hour and we didn't recover those laps, but the pace was always there. In qualifying, it was all about trying to stay away from the walls, and then in that last lap I went for it a bit more and the lap time came very nice. The car felt really good, everything felt great and it's amazing to be on pole," Leclerc said talking to F1TV in his post-race interview.
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Leclerc's love for Baku
The Baku City Circuit, known for its fast straights and technical corners, has always been a venue where Leclerc's driving prowess shines. His ability to extract the maximum performance from the car and adapt to the evolving conditions of the track has been a key factor in his success this season.
Leclerc’s pole position sets him up favourably for the race, offering him a strong opportunity to capitalize on his starting advantage. With his track record at Baku and his current form, he remains a formidable contender for victory as the weekend unfolds. The forthcoming race will test his ability to convert his qualifying advantage into a winning performance and further solidify his standing in the championship.
"First and third is where you want to start and hopefully we can play a team game tomorrow to win the race. In the past we have struggled in the race, this year we have a stronger race car so I hope that we can finally make it tomorrow," the Ferrari driver added.
The main race will be held on September 15.
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