In Baku we take to the track for the first Sprint Shootout of the season. To take the pole position, which counts as the first position for the Afternoon sprints, it's still him: Charles Leclerc. A super Monegasque who still places himself in front of the two Red Bulls with Sergio Perez second followed by Max Verstappen.
Leclerc flies
Considering the park closed, and the few hours of time passed, the indications given in the qualification on Friday were largely confirmed. Leclerc, despite going into the block in his last attempt, continues to be on fire with the SF-23 but also with the characteristics of the track. Baku seems to have its name written everywhere, with Ferrari which seems to adapt very well to the characteristics of the track even with Sainz who, without having had the last attempt available, finishes in fifth position.
Aston without DRS
They seem to disappoint the two Aston Martin only in eighth and ninth position with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. There is a small problem with the car which gave Fernando Alonso three podiums up to Australia and it is relative to the DRS. The mobile wing it has never been available of the two riders who still managed to hit the top ten. A bad problem, which will affect the race in no small way.
We still see improvements
Keep looking good McLaren which will snap into tenth position with Lando Norris and eleventh with Piastri. A slight step back from the Woking team compared to yesterday, but we must consider that Norris didn't take to the track in Q3 as he didn't have, as required by the regulation, a set of new softs. However, McLaren has made it clear that it will be there this weekend, at least on the flying lap. Great attention is paid to the Sprint and above all to the race, to understand what the pace of the MCL60 will be.
Confirmations on the bottom
The difficulties continue for Alfa Romeo sixteenth with Zhou and seventeenth with Bottas. On the bottom, affected by Sargeant's red flag in SQ1, Yuki tsunoda which closes after the excellent eighth position yesterday eighteenth, before Pierre Gasly and Nyck De Vries who, like yesterday, close the starting grid.
Back on track at 15.30pm.
So this is it the starting grid of the Sprint Shootout. Appointment in the afternoon, precisely at 15.30, to attend the first Sprint of the season.
Sprint Shootout, the results
1 Charles Leclerc
2 Sergio Perez
3 Max Verstappen
4George Russell
5 Carlos Sainz
6 Lewis Hamilton
7 Alexander Albon
8Fernando Alonso
9 Lance Stroll
10 Lando Norris
11 Oscar Plates
12 Nico Hulkenberg
13 Esteban Ocon
14Kevin Magnussen
15 Logan Sargeant
16 Guanyu Zhou
17 Valtteri Bottas
18 Yuki Tsunoda
19 Pierre Gasly
20 Nyck DeVries
