Charles Leclerc Crashes Yet Still Takes Pole For The First Sprint Race Of The Season In Azerbaijan

Charles Leclerc takes pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix sprint race.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be hosting the first sprint race of the 2023 season and fans have seen the first-ever sprint shootout this morning. 

Charles Leclerc has taken pole position for the sprint race later this afternoon, followed by Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen who will be starting in second and third, respectively. 

Ferrari fans' hearts were in their mouths at the end of SQ3 when Leclerc crashed into the tyre wall damaging the front wing. However, he was still able to take home pole position for the sprint race later today. 

Logan Sargeant crashed at the very end of SQ1 causing a red flag. Luckily for the American driver he had been able to put in the eleventh fastest time before that point so he technically went through to SQ2. However, he was in the pits for the duration. 

Out in SQ1 were Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly, and Nyck de Vries.

SQ2 saw Oscar Piastri, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, and Logan Sargeant knocked out. 

The rules of the new sprint shootout session state that the drivers must use a new set of soft tyres for SQ3. Both Lando Norris and Yuki Tsunoda went into today without a new set of softs. So, despite Norris getting through to SQ3, he will not be able to participate so will start the sprint race from tenth position.

Azerbaijan GP Sprint Shootout Results

1. Charles Leclerc
2. Sergio Perez
3. Max Verstappen
4. George Russell
5. Carlos Sainz
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Alex Albon
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Lance Stroll
10. Lando Norris
11. Oscar Piastri
12. Nico Huleknberg
13. Esteban Ocon
14. Kevin Magnussen
15. Logan Sargeant
16. Zhou Guanyu
17. Valtteri Bottas
18. Yuki Tsunoda
19. Pierre Gasly
20. Nyck de Vries