Charles Leclerc returned to form, securing the coveted P1 start in the final lap of Q3; his third in a row in Azerbaijan. Verstappen, Perez, and teammate Sainz line up behind him. The earlier rounds of qualifying saw rookie de Vries and veteran Pierre Gasly both crash out. Yuki Tsunoda finished P8.
Click here to read the full article by Nathan Evans (sportingnews.com).
Former team boss Eddie Jordan has criticized the new sprint weekend format in Formula 1, stating that F1 bosses are looking for "more excitement and more crashes." Jordan argues that with the new format, which sets up Saturday as a standalone event, the sport is looking for a quick fix and sacrificing the purity of the racing. Other F1 personalities, including former driver Ralf Schumacher, have also raised concerns about the new format's impact on the mechanics, drivers, and engineers. Despite these reservations, Schumacher is looking forward to the upcoming street circuit and predicts a lot of overtaking maneuvers.
Click here to read the full article by Michelle Foster (planetf1.com).
Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Alpine, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Haas, Williams, and AlphaTauri have all brought various upgrades to their cars for the Azerbaijan race. Red Bull focused on improving the car's cooling with a revised sidepod inlet and two winglets, while Ferrari only introduced a low-downforce configuration rear wing. Mercedes made several changes, including a revised rear wing tip and increased diffuser and floor load. McLaren brought a new floor body and rear wing flap trims, while Alpine introduced a new floor and low-downforce wings. Other teams, such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Haas, Williams, and AlphaTauri, also made modifications to their cars to improve performance
Click here to read the full article by Fergal Walsh (motorsportweek.com).
During the only practice session ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly's Alpine caught fire, causing significant disruptions to his preparations for the race. Kevin Magnussen also had to stop his Haas with a suspected fuel pressure issue. With qualifying to follow the session, Alpine faces a race against time to repair any damage to Gasly's car, which had new updates for the weekend. The incident has also eaten into crucial practice time for other teams, forcing them to make compromises between long-run and short-run simulations.
Click here to read the full article by Ewan Gale (racingnews365.com).
Mick Schumacher, who was dropped by Haas last season, is struggling to establish his F1 career and has been urged by Bernie Ecclestone to give up on his dream. Michael Schumacher's wife, Corinna, is unable to help her son in his F1 career, according to Ecclestone, who believes Mick needs someone to guide him to success. The family is supportive of Mick's F1 career, but Ecclestone believes they are unequipped for what Mick needs to thrive on the racetrack. Mick has suggested that his father's accident has taken a toll on his career, and he misses having the moments that many people have with their parents.
Click here to read the full article by Luke Chillingsworth (express.co.uk).
