Azerbaijan: pre-qualifying 2021

Singapore has been cancelled (you can guess which Horseman of the Apocalypse is responsible). At the moment, alternatives under consideration include Turkey, and a second race at the Circuit of the Americas, but we’ll have to wait and see.

And so to Azerbaijan, a weird circuit that’s 95% Monaco tedium but 5% wacky races comedy crashing and farcical restarts.

In first practice Verstappen was fastest, but only just, less than half a tenth ahead of Leclerc. Sainz was next but a third of a second further back, with Perez, Ricciardo, and Gasly in close contention. Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, and Bottas rounded out the top 10.

Second practice had Perez top, a tenth ahead of his team mate. Sainz was less than three-hundredths off the Dutchman and two-tenths ahead of his Monegasque team mate. Gasly and Alonso were separated by intervals of a tenth, with Giovinazzi, Norris, Ocon, and Tsunoda all lagging a bit.

Third practice was very choppy, with an early red flag after Verstappen crashed and umpteen yellows plus a VSC meaning many struggled to get in proper laps. Gasly ended up fastest (a full second ahead of Tsunoda), ahead of Perez by a third of a second. Hamilton was surprisingly good to be next, but was aided by a huge tow from Perez on the straight worth perhaps six-tenths (seems likely everyone will try that come qualifying). Leclerc and Sainz were both good in 4th and 5th. Norris was surprisingly close to Sainz, and Alonso did well to put his Alpine right behind the Briton. Tsunoda, Ocon, and Ricciardo rounded out the top 10. But with so many struggling to find space for a lap it’s hard to say how much this reflects real pace.

Many drivers had difficulty getting a lap in which may see some surprise exits and struggles in qualifying.

The chaotic nature will make it entertaining but highly unpredictable and no post-practice odds appealed (I did make some tiny bets before third practice).

Morris Dancer

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