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There’s all the time going to be a compromise relating to set-up in Azerbaijan because the Baku Metropolis Circuit is successfully two completely different tracks caught collectively – a good and twisty part after which some lengthy straights with 90-degree corners. So how did the groups cope? Listed here are 5 issues we realized from the 2 periods…
1. Ferrari within the combat for pole and win
Whereas Crimson Bull have extra straight-line pace, Ferrari are stronger within the corners. You possibly can see on the info that in qualifying trim, the purple vehicles are round two tenths of a second faster within the tight and slender sector two.
And it appears there’s nothing to decide on between the 2 approaches. Ferrari are on prime in each qualifying and race metrics (under), however it’s very effective margins.
FP2: Leclerc heads Crimson Bulls by over 0.2s in second Baku apply session
In the end, it’s going to come back all the way down to which driver out of the highest two groups does the most effective job on the day as as to if you’ll be on pole or down in fourth. After which it’s going to be all the way down to good technique and being operationally on level to transform that grid slot into victory on Sunday.
Had Carlos Sainz attached all his greatest mini sectors, the Spaniard would have ended second in our supreme lap rankings (under), three locations larger than he was categorised, the Spaniard leaving greater than a second out on observe.
His staff mate Charles Leclerc has round half a second in his pocket, too, and will have been even additional forward in qualifying trim. These two may very well be very robust right here this weekend.
READ MORE: Leclerc ends Friday on prime however hopes for ‘one other step’ as he braces for Verstappen problem
2. Crimson Bull look robust, however DRS a difficulty once more
Crimson Bull arrived in Baku as favourites and whereas it wasn’t the smoothest of days for the four-time world champions, they’re nonetheless very a lot within the combat for each pole place and the win on Sunday, primarily based on their Friday.
Sergio Perez, buoyed by his epic efficiency in Monaco and a contemporary cope with Crimson Bull, was on hearth from the off in first apply – however adjustments between periods had a unfavourable influence, so there’s a bit of labor to undergo tonight.
READ MORE: Crimson Bull pair assured they’ll shut as much as Ferrari in Baku regardless of ‘difficult’ Friday
For Max Verstappen, we don’t know his final tempo as a result of yellow flags prevented him from doing clear soft-tyre, low-fuel runs. He additionally misplaced observe time in FP2 whereas Crimson Bull labored to repair a DRS challenge that hampered him within the first session.
Nonetheless, there’s nothing to decide on between them and Ferrari relating to qualifying tempo (under). And it’s even nearer in race tempo, simply 0.02s separate them.
Breaking it down extra, they’re additional adrift within the first two sectors however almost a tenth clear within the remaining sector, which is actually full throttle.
3. Alpine look sharp as AlphaTauri bounce again
Fernando Alonso ensured Alpine had been within the top-five in each apply periods on Friday. The staff introduced a hefty improve to Baku and, as Alonso mentioned, they “appear quick”, notably on the straights, which is helped partially by their very skinny rear wing.
Their qualifying tempo – which has been their energy all season – appeared excellent. They’re third in that rating, albeit simply over a second adrift of Ferrari and Crimson Bull. It appears much less good by way of race tempo, they drop to sixth total behind Mercedes, AlphaTauri and McLaren – however their benefit on the straights (under) will make them difficult to overhaul.
READ MORE: ‘We appear quick’ – Alonso happy with Friday efficiency in Baku after set-up alternative helps him to P4 in FP2
Their greatest risk for the ‘better of the remainder’ accolade appear to be AlphaTauri, who had one in all their cleanest Fridays of the yr, with each Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda solidly within the prime 10. They could be fifth in qualifying trim, however it’s very shut with these round them – and offering they proceed that momentum into the weekend, factors must be on the playing cards.
4. Mercedes in a spot of hassle
That is going to be a difficult weekend for Mercedes after they endured a chastening Friday apply which their trackside chief Andrew Shovlin says has left them “searching for some basic enhancements” in a single day.
Each Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had been left disheartened with how the automobile felt, the experience on the straights notably uncomfortable. The W13’s straight-line pace was disappointing, however Shovlin believes a few of that loss was as a result of automobile “hitting the bottom” on the straights.
READ MORE: Crimson Bull and Ferrari are ‘too far forward’ says Russell as Mercedes finish Friday apply searching for tempo
They had been stronger within the hotter circumstances of FP1, however misplaced floor and struggled extra for grip when it cooled for the second session. On one-lap tempo, they’re fourth behind Alpine and a fraction forward of AlphaTauri and McLaren.
When it comes to race trim, they’re as much as third however they’re nonetheless almost a second per lap slower than Ferrari and Crimson Bull, that means difficult for a podium in a standard race appears tough in the intervening time.
Lewis Hamilton is ‘a bit sore’ after ‘bouncing quite a bit’ in Azerbaijan GP apply
5. The Metropolis of Winds lives as much as its identify
As Lando Norris mentioned, “Baku is tough sufficient usually” with out the additional problem of some fairly hefty winds. In FP1, there have been gusts of 35-40km/h, which Norris mentioned felt “nasty” and meant it was tough to be constant and discover a good stability.
His staff mate Daniel Ricciardo mentioned the wind was so dangerous “it appeared like we couldn’t drive straight!” and he was “getting thrown round quite a bit”.
It was an issue for everybody, a number of getting caught out by gusts which continuously modified instructions, and that despatched them into the run-off areas.
Whereas the wind died down in second apply and is anticipated to ease because the weekend goes on, it’ll nonetheless be an element.
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