Motosport General discussion tread --- Formula1, MotoGP, WTCC, ETCC, DTM.....

[coinlocket$]

Keep in mind that Redull got a big upgrade this weekend.
If the go back near the top of the grid it will be thanks to the new floor of the car they had.

This is the 1st attempt the team did to fix the issues of the car after the GP of China.

For sure RBR looks more competitive in Baku but as said timer will decrease by a lot for the dirty track.

We need to see tomorrow if upgrades actually works

[tokeweed]

^  I think Sergio Perez will have another decent performance in this circuit again...  Not only because of the upgrade but Perez is pretty good in this track.  I think most of his podium finishes are in Baku.    He's at 4.00 to finish in the podium.  Prolly there's some value there as he could be above the expectations compared to the implied odds.  Dunno tho...  FP3 where everybody starts pushing it is really not giving signs that Red Bull could be ahead here.

Here are the results for FP3...

2024 F1 Azerbaijan GP FP3 Results

1   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m42.514s
2   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m42.527s
3   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m42.737s
4   Oscar Piastri   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m42.749s
5   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m42.862s
6   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m42.968s
7   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m43.024s
8   Alex Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m43.194s
9   Franco Colapinto   ARG   Williams Racing   1m43.238s
10   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m43.301s
11   Fernando Alonso   ESP   Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team   1m43.474s
12   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Visa Cash App RB F1 Team   1m43.503s
13   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team   1m43.571s
14   Daniel Ricciardo   AUS   Visa Cash App RB F1 Team   1m43.870s
15   Pierre Gasly   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m43.876s
16   Nico Hulkenberg   GER   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m44.164s
17   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber   1m44.187s
18   Zhou Guanyu   CHN   Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber   1m44.869s
19   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   No Time Set
20   Oliver Bearman   GBR   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   No Time Set

[Distraction]

We have left the qualifying session behind. Leclerc took the pole position, congrats to him!    It is a well-deserved pole truthfully. He was giving the signal from the Free Practice already. You must be knowing how successful he has been in Azerbaijan in the recent years when it comes to capturing pole also. Now the thing I'm hoping not to see is that Ferrari messes up with strategies. But I must admit they were really good in Monza.

It was a nightmare session for Norris... He couldn't even see further than Q1. What do you think about his climb? Will he reach podium anyway you think? Truthfully I doubt it for now considering it is a street race. 

[coinlocket$]

Leclerc is on another level on this track.
I think this is his 4th poleposition in 5 years on this track

As predicted was a fight between Ferrari e and Mclaren for the pole position but with a closer RBR.

Norris got unluck but it will have a chance tomorrow nothing is lost.

[retreat]

We have left the qualifying session behind. Leclerc took the pole position, congrats to him!    It is a well-deserved pole truthfully. He was giving the signal from the Free Practice already. You must be knowing how successful he has been in Azerbaijan in the recent years when it comes to capturing pole also. Now the thing I'm hoping not to see is that Ferrari messes up with strategies. But I must admit they were really good in Monza.

It was a nightmare session for Norris... He couldn't even see further than Q1. What do you think about his climb? Will he reach podium anyway you think? Truthfully I doubt it for now considering it is a street race. 

Charles getting the pole position is his hard work, we can see how he was quite stressed in some corners during the practice session and even he said that it was quite impossible for him, but in the end he got the pole position which was not expected. Now we just have to wait and see how Ferrari's strategy is and how Sainz can at least hold off the people behind him.

And for Norris, he only got P17 which makes his chance to get the podium very small. But at least he might be able to get P10, maybe.

[coinlocket$]

Oh good timers for Colapinto and Bearman too.
Was a good call from Haas and Williams.

I think I never seen what happened do Albion on the last 2 minutes of Q3.

He left the pit box with an item attached on his car, stopped in the mid of the pit box exit, removed the item an restarted.

For sure he will take a penalty, a fine for sure and almost certainly positions in the grid.

[Velvet78]

Huge congratulations to Leclerc on his work! It is nice to see some Ferrari domination this weekend.    Piastri is between two Ferraris before the start line tomorrow. The start is going to be really an interesting one considering the grid behind as well. I must also admit Colapinto did a nice work there. Not only by qualifying for Q3 but also by overtaking Albon. He seems really promising.

The biggest surprise was of course Norris. The biggest disappointment I must say. He stated they were worse than Ferrari but I'm sure he didn't mention this.    I give him near 0 chance to win the race tomorrow. Even for podium he doesn't have a big chance...