From Q3 error to damage limitation
Charles Leclerc admitted he “paid the price” for a qualifying crash that set the tone for a frustrating Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver hit the barriers on his first Q3 lap, locking in 10th on the grid and ultimately finishing ninth in a race that offered limited strategic variance.
Strategy shuffle, same outcome
Leclerc pitted on lap 19 to switch from mediums to hards, a choice he said was effectively equal to the alternative hard–medium route. With most of the field committing to one-stoppers and tyre degradation low, the key variable became track position—not an advantage Leclerc could leverage after his Saturday error.
Stuck in the train
The Monegasque spent much of the race boxed in behind Liam Lawson, citing the RB’s straight-line speed and strong final sector: “I got stuck behind him the whole race… very difficult to overtake.”
Ferrari’s wider picture
With team-mate Lewis Hamilton finishing one place ahead in eighth, Ferrari left Baku light on points and has slipped to third in the Constructors’ standings. Leclerc, though, was unequivocal about responsibility: “It’s been a very strong season so far, but [in Baku] I haven’t been on the level where I should be and I paid the price for it.”
