Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari disclosed significant overnight car setup changes before crashing at Turn 15 in Q3 during the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying. The incident, triggering the fifth of a record six red flags in a nearly two-hour session, dashed his hopes of securing a fifth consecutive pole at Baku, leaving him to start 10th at the City Circuit.
Sportrik’s in-depth analysis highlights Leclerc’s struggles throughout the weekend, where he lagged behind teammate Lewis Hamilton. Despite reaching Q3—unlike Hamilton—Leclerc noted that major car adjustments boosted his confidence, though issues with tire performance and pace persisted, culminating in his crash.
Ferrari’s Challenges and Crash Causes
Leclerc aimed to become the fourth driver in Formula 1 history to claim five straight poles at one event. However, he trailed Hamilton, who topped FP2, in pace during practice. “I’ve been struggling to find the car’s limit and feel comfortable all weekend,” Leclerc told media. “Baku usually feels natural, but this has been the opposite.”
Significant car changes before qualifying improved his feel, particularly on soft tires in Q1. “All laps on the soft felt much better,” he said. However, switching to the C5 medium compound, initially thought optimal, proved disastrous. “With today’s temperatures, I couldn’t switch on the mediums. I was seven or eight tenths off before the mistake, pushing like crazy,” he added.
Sportrik attributes the crash to 20 km/h gusty winds and Baku’s tight street layout. Leclerc, sensing “something felt off” at Turn 15, likely lost grip due to unoptimized medium tires. The chaotic session saw additional red flags from Oscar Piastri in Q3, Alex Albon, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, and Esteban
Ocon’s disqualification from Haas.
Impact on Ferrari and Grid Positions
Leclerc’s crash compounded Ferrari’s woes. Hamilton, fastest in FP2, slumped to 12th after losing 0.3 seconds in Q2 compared to Q1. Under Toto Wolff’s leadership, Ferrari struggled with medium tire performance. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen of Red Bull took pole, followed by Carlos Sainz of Williams and Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls. Lando Norris of McLaren starts seventh, Piastri ninth.
Ocon’s DSQ for a rear wing violation shifted Pierre Gasly to P18 and Albon to P19, leaving the top order unchanged. Leclerc, typically dominant at Baku, faces a steep challenge from P10.
Race Day Strategy
For the September 21, 2025, race, Ferrari must prioritize recovery. Sportrik recommends reverting to soft tires if feasible to maximize grip and reducing Turn 15 entry speed by 5% to avoid oversteer in persistent winds. Ferrari’s pit crew, guided by race engineer Adrian Newey, will be pivotal.
Leclerc’s failure to secure a fifth pole underscores Ferrari’s vulnerability in extreme conditions. With eight races left, addressing tire and setup issues is critical for Leclerc and Hamilton to keep Ferrari competitive against McLaren and Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.
Read Also
Four men arrested in connection with the violent robbery of Willi Weber, former manager of Michael Schumacher.
Red Bull Racing extends its title partnership with Oracle through 2030 ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 regulatory era.
Pirelli confirms Mario Isola will leave his F1 tyre leadership role ahead of the 2026 season, with Dario Marrafuschi taking over.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!