24/06/2017
NEWS STORY
Over the course of the three opening sessions, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend has resembled one of those TV series that keeps serving up plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat awaiting the next episode. Only time will tell if we have another Sopranos or Breaking Bad on our hands or merely a Riviera or Blue Bloods.
On the face of it, Max Verstappen has been quickest in two of the three sessions, with teammate Daniel Ricciardo there or thereabouts.
However, the Dutch teenage crashed at the end of FP2 yesterday and suffered a hydraulics failure this morning.
At Mercedes, while Valtteri Bottas has been pretty much on the pace, topping the timesheets earlier, teammate Lewis Hamilton has had an up and down weekend thus far, prompting fears that we could be looking at another Sochi or Monaco.
And while we might be expecting Ferrari to make hay, especially if Mercedes is hurting, Sebastian Vettel missed much of this morning's session with a hydraulics issue, though Monaco pole-man finished the session quickest. Over the lunch break the Italian team changed Vettel's engine, stressing the change was "precautional".
Fact is, qualifying looks likely to be something of a lottery, for there are numerous factors that can, and probably will, come into play.
First off, the session will take place in cooler temperatures and therefore what worked earlier might not work now.
Furthermore, nobody appears happy with the tyres, and if proof were needed one need look no further than the 100+ yellow flags we witnessed yesterday.
Indeed, the nature of the track, traffic, the probability of offs and incidents, particularly in Q1, could produce one of the strangest grids witnessed for a long time.
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 50 degrees.
For poor old Jolyon Palmer things go from bad to worse. Already under pressure to raise his game, the Briton crashed in yesterday's second session and this morning suffered an engine fire which means he will be unable to take part in this afternoon's session.
The lights go green and Hulkenberg leads the way, followed by a whole host of drivers, Vettel the first of the big guns to emerge.
With tyre temperature such a major issue, the drivers work furiously in an attempt to generate sufficient heat.
A mistake at T5 means Hulkenberg can only manage 47.341, with Magnussen and Stroll (44.944) immediately going quicker.
Among the last out are the Mercedes duo, and as Verstappen posts 43.750, it becomes clear that driver are confused as to who is on a hot lap - or second hot lap - and who isn't.
Ricciardo posts 44.480 to make it a Red Bull 1-2, with Massa splitting the pair moments later.
Sainz is off at T2 and has to reverse back on to the track, bringing out the yellows in the process.
The times are tumbling, Raikkonen going quickest (43.319), ahead of Perez and Ocon, while both Mercedes drivers are over 12s off the pace on the first laps which are really second warm-up laps.
Verstappen posts 42.860 only to be leapfrogged by Hamilton (42.384).
Vettel, currently 19th on 49.349, improves to 4th with a 43.123.
As Magnussen goes off at T2, Ocon goes third with a 43.051.
Ricciardo almost trips up over Grosjean, as Ocon reports that he touched the wall.
Told Ocon is behind, the Finn demands to know how far the Force India is. "If you let me finish, I'll tell you," is the stern reply.
Hamilton consolidates his tops spot with a 41.983, as Verstappen posts 42.544.
Raikkonen claims third with a 42.678, one place ahead of Vettel who improves to 42.952.
With 3:20 remaining, Grosjean, Magnussen, Vandoorne and Ericsson comprise the drop zone. The Dane subsequently improves but only to 15th.
Grosjean improves, marginally, which is bad news for Wehrlein.
Masa is off at T8 while Grosjean is off at T2.
Currently Alonso is 15th, but has that little matter of the 40-place grid penalty.
"Don't speak to me, I'm trying to focus," snaps Monsieur Moany. The Frenchman subsequently goes off at T2 again.
A late improvement sees Wehrlein make the cut by the skin of his teeth., while a further late improvement for Magnussen is bad news for Alonso, not that the Spaniard would expect anything less.
Quickest in Q1 is Hamilton, ahead of Verstappen, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Vettel, Bottas, Ocon, Perez and Massa.
We lose Alonso, Grosjean, Ericsson and Vandoorne.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Baku, here.
The lights go green to signal the start of Q2 and within moments there are eight drivers on track among them Hamilton and Raikkonen. Again, the drivers work furiously to generate heat into their tyres.
In no time at all, all 15 drivers are on track.
On board with Massa shows the Brazilian pushing to the limit, the Williams almost hitting the barriers at three successive corners.
Of the first wave, Raikkonen is quickest, ahead of Verstappen, Ricciardo, Stroll and Massa. Bottas, Hamilton and Vettel are clearly seeking the best times on their second flying lap.
Indeed, Bottas posts 42.032 only to be eclipsed by Hamilton with his 41.992. Vettel can only manage sixth (42.652).
Replay shows Verstappen leaving a thin layer of rubber on the wall.
Hamilton is told he's "too slow in Turn 11".
A 42.471 sees Perez go fourth, though moments later he is leapfrogged by Verstappen (42.349).
As Ricciardo goes seventh (42.620), Hamilton goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 41.275, thereby putting 0.757s of daylight between himself and his teammate.
A 42.602 sees Stroll improve to 6th, as teammate Massa is just above the drop zone.
Verstappen splits the Mercedes duo with a 41.961, the Red Bull driver quickest in S1.
Ricciardo also improves but his 42.215 is only good enough for fifth.
Vettel, currently eighth, is back on track.
Kvyat posts PBs in the first two sectors, but a poor final sector means he can only go 11th (43.186).
Told he can have another lap, Magnussen says his tyres are "too damaged".
A late charge sees Vettel take second (41.911), albeit 0.636s off Hamilton's pace.
Neither Toro Rosso driver is likely to improve, both having poor middle sectors.
Bottas produces a 41.502 at the death, to go second, but still 0.227s shy of his teammate.
Quickest is Hamilton, ahead of Bottas, Vettel, Verstappen, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Stroll, Perez, Massa and Ocon.
We lose Kvyat, Sainz, Magnussen, Hulkenberg and Wehrlein.
Bottas gets Q3 underway, the Finn followed by Ricciardo, Hamilton and Raikkonen. Vettel heads out shortly after.
As Raikkonen goes quickest in S1, Ricciardo is told to keep working his tyres.
Vettel goes quickest in S1 as Bottas posts 47.201 and Hamilton 54.307, the Briton clearly targeting that second lap.
No sooner has Raikkonen gone third with a 47.707 than teammate Vettel goes quickest with a 43.194.
Verstappen posts 42.261 but both Mercedes drivers are on hot laps.
Bottas improves to 41.274 with Hamilton posting 41.428 moments later having lost ground in S3.
Replay shows Hamilton running wide in T16 while Bottas kissed the barrier at T8.
Vettel is off at T2, as Perez goes seventh with a 47.731, just ahead of his teammate.
Now Raikkonen gets it wrong in T2, the desperation of the Ferrari duo obvious.
Hamilton is told he can pit for fresh rubber but he wants to continue.
The session is red flagged when Ricciardo stops on track at T6 after clouting the wall. "just lost the rear exiting six," sighs the Australian.
At the time of the incident Hamilton was about to improve, having gone quickest in S1.
Meanwhile, Vettel has to be rescued after stopping at the end of the pitlane, the lights going red before the German could rejoin the track.
Under the red flag, with 3:33 remaining, it's: Bottas, Hamilton, Verstappen, Raikkonen, Ocon, Vettel, Ricciardo, Perez, Massa and Stroll.
As the Red Bull is removed from the track, Ricciardo runs back to the pits.
With the session due to resume at 18:05, Verstappen heads out, the Dutchman aware that he can possibly manage two flying laps, though it will be tight.
The lights go green and in no time at all but Raikkonen and Vettel are on track, the Ferrari duo seemingly settling for just one lap.
"Max, if you get challenged by a car behind, switch to mode 8," Verstappen is told.
No purples in S1, certainly for Verstappen or the Mercedes duo.
However, in S2 Hamilton goes purple.
At the line Bottas improves to 41.27 but Hamilton bangs in a 40.593.
All eyes turn to the Ferraris.
Raikkonen posts 41.693 to go third with Vettel taking fourth (41.841) moments later.
Hamilton takes pole, ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen, Vettel, Verstappen, Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Massa and Ricciardo.
Kvyat is eleventh, ahead of Sainz, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Wehrlein, Alonso, Grosjean, Ericsson and Vandoorne. Not having taken part, Palmer will need to seek the permission of the Stewards if he is to participate tomorrow.
"Nice work Lewis," comes the message over the radio. "Nice work mate, pole position. Stellar performance." Indeed it was.
Needless to say, all the previously mentioned issues - temperatures, tyres, traffic etc. - set us up nicely for tomorrow, especially as we know how good Ferrari is when it comes to starts.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Baku, here.