Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) draws faster than anyone in Baku. The Monegasque driver took the minipole in the first Sprint Shootout in history, that is, the express classification that establishes the grid for the Sprint Race (today, at 3:30 p.m., 17 laps). He beat the two Red Bulls, just like he did on Friday in the traditional classification.
The Spaniards were discreet, with Carlos Sainz fifth and Fernando Alonso, eighth.
The new format of the Sprint Shootout, a 30-minute express classification to determine the starting grid for the Sprint Race (3:30 p.m.), was released with the usual stress of news, but in practice with a similar hierarchy on the track to the on Friday in the traditional classification, led by Charles Leclerc.
The first sleeve (now called SQ1), of only 12 minutes, was dominated with authority by poleman Leclerc, who scored 468 thousandths of a second from Verstappen, second again, and 7 tenths from Hamilton, who improved compared to Friday (5th). Sainz repeated in fourth place and Alonso in sixth. The same order of the previous day.
The sleeve was closed prematurely with Sargeant's accident 25 seconds from the end when he collided laterally against the wall of protections. A mishap that delayed the session.
In SQ2 they took turns in command Verstappen and Leclerc. The Dutchman took the second qualifying leg by 83 thousandths of a second over the Monegasque, with Sainz third (4 tenths away), evidencing his pace ahead of the Ferraris. Pérez, fourth, and Alonso, fifth, with Hamilton, sixth, closed the group of favourites. The highlight of the sleeve was the tow that Alonso gave his teammate Stroll to enter the top 10 fastest (he was able to go from 310 to 325 km/h). Both Aston Martins had trouble opening the DRS on the straight.
The final SQ3, now reduced to just 8 minutes and with new soft tires required, also allowed two best lap attempts, but without dawdling. Leclerc brought out his killer instinct again from Friday to score a great lap in 1m41s697, which was 179 thousandths faster than the one given by Pérez, the second fastest, ahead of his teammate Verstappen, who made a slight mistake and dropped 4 tenths . Alonso was only 9th at 3s5, and Sainz, fourth, half a second behind.
In the second attempt, without changing tires, Leclerc crashed into the wall and broke the front wing, but it did not mean he lost the minipole, since neither Pérez nor Verstappen improved their time sufficiently, so the Red Bulls stayed second and third. Sainz was fifth, and Alonso, eighth.
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
4. George Russell (Mercedes)
5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
7. Alex Albon (Williams)
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
9. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
10. Lando Norris (McLaren)
11. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
12. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
13. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
14. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
15. Logan Sargeant (Williams)
16. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo)
17. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
18. Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)
19. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
20. Nyck De Vries (Alpha Tauri)
