The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend saw some thrilling action with the first-ever Formula 1 Sprint Shootout. Charles Leclerc took pole position despite a late skirmish in the shootout with the wall. The redesigned format of the shootout saw drivers battling it out on Saturday ahead of the main race on Sunday. Leclerc emerged as the winner of the shootout, giving him a strong starting position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Aston Martin team had a difficult qualifying session with Fernando Alonso expressing disappointment over his DRS problem that prevented him from qualifying higher than sixth. However, things improved for the team during the Sprint Shootout as they managed to secure 4th and 5th positions on the grid.
Interestingly, there have been discussions about whether Formula 1 should have more cars on the grid. Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali has stated that prospective new teams must bring value to the championship in the medium to long term. The deadline for new team applications is approaching, and it remains to be seen whether any new teams will be added to the grid in the future.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix featured some other exciting moments, such as the tense battle between Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen. Verstappen took the lead from his teammate and held on to it, securing an impressive victory. Sebastian Vettel also had a strong race, climbing from 11th position to finish in 6th place.
All eyes will now be on the next race in the Formula 1 calendar as the teams head to France for the French Grand Prix. As the season progresses, fans can expect more thrilling races and close battles between the teams.
