Leclerc’s crash in qualifying dominates headlines ahead of Azerbaijan Grand Prix

A big crash for Charles Leclerc in the second part of qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw the driver who had looked a cert for pole position in Baku ruled out of contention, leaving Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas to claim his second consecutive P1 grid slot as Mercedes locked out the front row.

“I am stupid. I am stupid.” Those were the tortured words of Charles Leclerc as his Ferrari came to rest in the Baku barriers during the second segment of qualifying. The anguish was understandable. Up to that point, the 21-year-old appeared odds-on to become this season’s first repeat polesitter, having been fastest in every practice leading into Saturday’s session and red-hot in Q1. (F1)

Leclerc got it wrong as he was entering the Turn 8 corner that brings the cars around the castle section of the circuit, ending up embedded in the same barrier where Williams’ Robert Kubica had finished Q1, and causing the biggest qualifying upset so far this season.

That left Sebastian Vettel to defend the honour of Ferrari in Q3, but the German could only manage P3, 0.302s adrift of Bottas’ pace despite the Scuderia’s apparent speed advantage this season.

Bottas was ahead of team mate Lewis Hamilton by just 0.059s, while Max Verstappen will line up in P4 for Red Bull, his best-ever start in Baku.

Photo: Monaco’s Formula One driver Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari reacts after he crashed his carding the qualifying session for the 2019 Formula One Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan, 27 April 2019. The 2019 Formula One Grand Prix of Azerbaijan will take place on 28 April. EPA-EFE/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

Via F1