Leclerc Mystified by Baku Brilliance: No ‘Magic Answer’ for Azerbaijan GP Pole Record

Charles Leclerc admits he doesn't have a "magic solution" for his consistently strong qualifying performances in Baku. The Ferrari driver says he is unable to pinpoint the exact reason behind his impressive track record at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, reports Lewis Larkam from Baku.

Charles Leclerc admits he lacks a definitive explanation for his remarkable track record of securing pole positions at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Ferrari driver secured an easy pole position in Baku, clocking in 0.321 seconds faster than McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Piastri’s performance prevented Carlos Sainz from joining his Ferrari teammate in the front row.

When Crash.net inquired if his most recent pole position in Baku was his finest, Leclerc responded, "No, it's not the best."

"In my opinion, the 2021 event was likely the most remarkable because it took place during an extremely challenging year. We were competing for 9th and 10th positions in that championship, so securing pole position here was truly extraordinary."

"Nevertheless, the lap was excellent. Interestingly, my laps on this track show very little variation. It seems I'm quite consistent here, though I can't pinpoint exactly why. I simply enjoy the flow of this track."

"Each lap I completed was highly competitive starting from the first qualifying session, and the car's balance felt excellent. The lap itself was impressive, though it's challenging to compare it to previous years."

This stands as Leclerc's third pole position of the season and the 26th of his career overall.

Although he has secured the pole position four times in Baku, the driver from Monaco has not yet managed to turn any of those into a victory on the street circuit.

Leclerc admitted that it "would be nice [to finally win]." He noted that the pole positions in 2021 and 2023 were quite surprising, as the car lacked the speed needed for victory.

"In 2022, we had a solid car, but the engine failed, so we hope the speed is still there and nothing prevents us from winning this time."

"However, before considering the end result, there are still numerous laps to complete on this challenging track. We'll find out more tomorrow."

"During this period, I'll ensure that I am preparing as thoroughly as I can."

Leclerc emphasized that he remains "unconcerned" about Ferrari's race performance, even though he couldn't finish a long stint on Friday due to an accident during the first practice session.

He mentioned that although he hadn't done a lap with a heavy fuel load, he wasn't concerned about it because the car has performed well in that aspect this year, so he's confident about tomorrow's race.

"However, it's clear that we need to ensure everything is perfect, so I'll have to spend some time tonight preparing for tomorrow. Despite this, I'm not overly concerned. We'll put forth our best effort with what we have, and then we'll find out if it's sufficient to win the race."

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