Hamilton: A 100% Mercedes front row, even without improvements on the car!
Against all odds, it was the two Mercedes that locked out the front row of this Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which will start at 14:10.
Ferrari was expected to be the favorite team for these qualifications in Azerbaijan. But Leclerc’s crash in Q2 combined with Vettel’s lack of slipstream on the straight in Q3 ultimately changed the face of these qualifications. Achieving his third pole position this season, Valtteri Bottas edged out… Lewis Hamilton, his teammate, by less than 60 thousandths.
Even beaten by his garage neighbor this Saturday, Lewis Hamilton was pleased with his team’s strong performance in qualifying.
« It was very tight. Ferrari seemed incredibly fast and Valtteri did a great job. It’s an outstanding result: we came here without upgrades and still secured the front row! I’m very happy about it, it puts us in a great position for the race. Valtteri is always quick here and I’ve got my work cut out for me! »
The threat to Hamilton is therefore right next to her on the grid: it’s called Bottas! Unlike the end of last year, the Finnish driver is close to his teammate. Everything suggests that the quadruple Grand Prix winner is going to try to take revenge on the Briton following his defeat in China two weeks ago, but also from last year in Baku, where a puncture in his right rear tire deprived him of a certain victory.
