The quiet after the storm
After the Wet FP3s, qualifications begin with the dry track, rubberized only by WSeries, but with the sky overcast clouds. All the riders, therefore, try to get on track and set the best time immediately to avoid the rain messing up their plans.
At the end of Q1, they are eliminatedthe Tsunodas, Albon, Vettel, Gasly and Latifi. The Canadian finished last after finishing FP3 in the lead and having the best first sector of all on the last attempt. A very unloaded Williams that flies in the straight but suffers in the many corners, including the last one where the number 6 made a mistake.
As for Hag, missed out on Q2 by a few tenths, after his mechanics managed to repair his car just in time for qualifying. The track, cleared of rain, is improved a lot during the session and put some drivers from the top teams such as Perez (thirteenth) and Leclerc (eighth) under pressure.
Plot twist in Q2
Q2 continues with a dry track that improves considerably. With 4 minutes left, Perez he is warned that some are coming down rain drops. The Mexican suffers a lot and is eliminated with theeleventh time, ahead of Zhou, Magnussen, Stroll and Mick Schumacher.
From Baku onwards, Checo was no longer able to find the right feeling with his RB18, updated to favor the driving style of his teammate Verstappen. The one who seemed like a title contender at the beginning of the season, almost at Max's level, is now in great difficulty. There have already been two eliminations in Q2 in the last five rounds.
Disappointment at home too Haas: the many updates they didn't help Magnussen, only thirteenth. Not even Mick Schumacher, although lacking updates, manages to do better than fifteenth. Small gem: at the end of Q2, Latifi still holds the best time in the first sector.
Russell mocks everyone!
After the first attempt in Q3, Sainz is on provisional pole ahead of Russell, Leclerc and Hamilton. Verstappen only seventh due to an error in the first sector. It's raining wet at Red Bull: during his out lap, the Dutchman complains about have no power but try to walk around anyway.
The 2021 world champion closes in tenth position and the Reds are second with Sainz and third with Leclerc. In pole, however, there is George Russell! After second place in Spa last year, the Englishman took the first pole of his career at the circuit where Verstappen had done the same in 2019.
Excellent result for Lando Norris, fourth ahead of Or with e Alonso. Hamilton he finishes seventh after aborting the last lap. Good qualification also for Bottas (eighth) e Ricciardo (ninth), On the McLaren we can see the results of the updates made in the last few races and the Australian is improving visibly, despite still being behind his teammate.
