Max Verstappen lately defined how qualifying and the principle race on street tracks are fairly totally different from different everlasting tracks. The Dutchman completed second in Friday’s qualifying session for the 2023 F1 Azerbaijan GP, whereas Charles Leclerc of Ferrari took the pole place.
Speaking on the drivers’ press convention after the qualifying session, Verstappen defined how the tires behave on a street monitor and how drivers are in a position to push extra throughout qualifying in comparison with the race. The Dutchman admitted that he had not realized or grasped a lot from the qualifying session, saying:
“Well, in qualifying, not so much. I mean, I think the race is a bit different, you know. You cannot attack like you do in qualifying, and also the way the car behaves on the tires is completely different. So, you know, on street circuits like this, I think qualifying and the race are quite different.”
Verstappen summed up his qualifying session, stating how it was powerful for him to place a correct lap across the Baku street circuit. Though he’ll begin the principle race from second place, he isn’t too dejected by the qualifying consequence and is assured in Red Bull’s race tempo. The Dutchman said:
“It’s not bad. I mean, it’s better than last! No, I mean, it’s been alright. It’s just, it’s tough to put the whole lap together around here. And yeah, also, the last run in Q3 was maybe not the cleanest.”
He concluded:
“But I mean, at the end of the day, it’s also not really bad for us. I mean, we know that we have a quick race car and, yeah, we have to try and of course use that, mainly on Sunday.”
Charles Leclerc stunned to beat Max Verstappen and sit on pole within the 2023 F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
Charles Leclerc was stunned to beat Max Verstappen and stick it on pole in Friday’s qualifying session within the 2023 F1 Azerbaijan GP. After a horrendous weekend in Australia, the Monagasque was not anticipating to start out the race from P1 in Baku. In his post-session interview in Parc-Ferme with Mark Webber for Sky Sports, Leclerc mentioned:
“For sure I am surprised. I mean, we came into the weekend thinking it will be a great weekend if we are in front of Aston (Martin) and Mercedes in qualifying and at the end, we are on pole so it’s a really good surprise. We must not forget that our race car is still behind the Red Bulls. So, it’s going to be difficult to keep the lead but that’s the target and I am really really happy with the lap.”
Despite getting pole place, the Ferrari driver is properly conscious that his battle is just not with Red Bull however with Aston Martin and Mercedes. Though he might be trying to maintain the lead so long as doable, the 25-year-old is not going to look to sabotage his whole race by making an attempt to defend the quicker Red Bull automobiles behind him.
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