Formula 1 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku, 29 April

Posted: 29.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

Maurizio Arrivabene: “As we had already seen yesterday, today our car proved to be very competitive and capable of doing well on any kind of circuit. We were controlling the race with Sebastian, but the double intervention of the Safety Car cancelled the gap we had built up. As for Kimi, after the accident on Lap 1, he charged back to second place. All weekend long, the team reacted strongly and calmly and now we’re looking ahead to the next race in Spain.”

Kimi Raikkonen: “It was not the easiest or most enjoyable race. After the accident with Esteban on the first lap, I had to come in to change the nose and switch to Soft tires. I don’t know if my car was damaged, but overall the feeling was ok. The tires were not consistent, a bit on-and-off; I was struggling to keep them warm enough and had some difficult moments. Some laps they felt good and some others it was more tricky. After that, things went back to normal. I tried to stay out of trouble, pushing when it felt right to do so and do my own race. I was expecting something to happen sooner or later. It’s never too late; you need to be ready, because you never know what can happen until the race is finished. We are pretty confident for the future, because we have the speed, and this is the main thing. We just need to minimize all the mistakes and the issues to be up there all the time. Today obviously feels better than yesterday, it worked out pretty ok. I will happily take this second place, considering the tricky race we had.”

Sebastian Vettel: “We are not entirely happy, because we could have won. In fact, I am very upset about losing the position at the restart, because I didn’t want that to happen, but there are also so many positive aspects to take from this race. When the safety car pulled away, I saw a gap and I went for it, but obviously it didn’t work. So, now it’s easy for everyone to say that it was too big a risk, but I was driving at 330 kph on the straight, there was no reference on the left and I didn’t really have many options. Lewis was on the right, while Valtteri was ahead, but I couldn’t really go to the right. I also wanted to go for the inside, but once I locked up, it was tough luck. After that, with the flat spot, it was a shame that I had to give the position to Sergio. Apart from that, I think it was a very good race; we had a good pace and were in control. Anyway, this is how it goes sometimes. I had a chance to win and I tried. It just didn’t work. It was a quick decision, so there was a chance it wouldn’t be right. Now I think we need to look ahead because we had a strong car today. We’ll see what the other races will bring, but we need to stay hungry and keep working.”

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – A dominant performance until…

Posted: 29.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

The safety car spoilt it all. At the flag Kimi is second with Seb fourth

Baku, 29 April– Scuderia Ferrari dominated this whole weekend right up to a few laps before the end and leaves Baku with second and fourth places for Kimi and Seb respectively. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix turned out to be a totally unpredictable race, with the Safety Car closing down the gaps and robbing the leader Vettel of victory, but handing Kimi a lifeline after he had started further back. After four rounds, Scuderia Ferrari leads the Constructors’ championship by four points, while Sebastian is second in the Drivers’ classification, four points off Hamilton.

On the grid, the front runners were all on Supersofts, with the exception of Raikkonen who was using Ultrasofts. Seb maintained his pole advantage at the start, while Kimi was fighting with Ocon and right from the start, the debris was flying. Esteban ended up in the barrier and Kimi needed to pit for a set of Soft tyres and a front wing, as the Safety Car made its first appearance. The number 7 Ferrari re-emerged in 12^thplace as five laps went by before the race resumed. Seb had got his tyres up to a good temperature and thus defied Baku’s slipstreaming laws. He then pulled away while Kimi began overtaking other cars so that he was 10^thon lap 9. He then passed Stroll as the tyre changes began and out in front, Seb set another fastest lap. Kimi then got by Leclerc, who was having a great race in the Alfa-Sauber.

The two leaders were running at the same pace, but going into the first corner on lap 22, Hamilton locked his wheels and ruined his tyres, so that he had to pit. The leading SF71H stayed out and continued to push. Sebastian’s radar was picking up information on what was happening with the other cars. He pitted at the end of lap 30 to take on Softs, as planned. It took a few laps for the harder compound to settle down, as Bottas stayed out while Kimi was looking to go the distance.

But then it all happened on lap 40, as the two Red Bulls collided on the straight, which brought out the Safety Car, leading Ferrari to opt for a double pit stop. Seb and Kimi came in close formation. The Safety Car led the pack through the pit lane with Bottas in front on used Ultrasofts, followed by Seb, Hamilton and Kimi on new Ultrasofts. Ten laps to go and everything was up for grabs again, as Grosjean, in the process of warming his tyres, hit the wall, so the safety car period was extended.

There would be just a four lap sprint to the flag and the four leaders fanned out, Seb tried to attack but overshot the corner and flat spotted his tyres, running behind Kimi with the Mercedes duo out in front. But that wasn’t the end of the excitement as Bottas got a right rear puncture off some debris, while Perez passed Seb and that’s how it ended.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – “I believe we have good chances”

Posted: 28.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

Seb counting on today’s pole – the third in a row for him and the Scuderia – as Kimi snaps out of line and off the front row

Baku, April 28 – His first run in Q3 was good enough for Seb Vettel to take pole position for tomorrow’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Kimi Raikkonen was on his way to what looked like being a sensational lap, but an off-line just before the long straight meant he had to settle for sixth. For Scuderia Ferrari this was its third consecutive pole of the season and the SF71H proved to be the car to beat on the six kilometre track and its combination of tight corners and flat-out sections.

And yet, Seb feels that he could have improved still further: “I am very happy for this result, but I am a little bit upset with my final lap because I locked up in turn 3. I knew the car was good and in the first two corners I was already one and a half tenth faster than the lap before. Then, maybe, I hit the bump the wrong way a little under braking and I locked up. In the end I made the corner, so I wasn’t that late, but obviously after that, the grip wasn’t the same. It’s a shame because I think I could have been faster, but I am happy anyway. I am sorry for Kimi because we could have both been on the front row. However, we’ll see tomorrow, It’s going to be a long race. I think it is very important to be able to fight for the pole in order to have a good chance during the race. Even if the result has been good these last few Saturdays, there’s still a lot of work for us. We know that the car can be faster. Obviously we have worked hard to get to where we are now, but everybody in the team knows there’s more to do. We have to stay focused and keep pushing. However, I am not afraid for tomorrow and I believe we have good chances”.

A disappointed Kimi summed up his afternoon: “In Q3, on my last run I had a lot of speed and the feeling with the car was really good; I knew I had a very good lap going.  Entering the last corner I took it very easily because over the weekend the wind has been quite tricky there.  But for whatever reason I got a massive snap exiting the corner and went sideways. I was able to get the car back but the lap was gone. I’m pretty sure that without that mistake I would have been in a much better position. It’s very painful and frustrating to mess it up in the last corner like that, I’m very disappointed. Unfortunately with the mistake we are not in a very good position for the race. Today it did not pay off, but tomorrow is another day and  we’ll do our best”.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Vettel takes pole for Ferrari

Posted: 28.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

Raikkonen on third row

Baku, 28 April – In today’s qualifying session, Sebastian Vettel went quickest to take his 53rd career pole, his eighth for Scuderia Ferrari, with a lap in 1’41”498, set on Ultrasoft tyres. Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was sixth fastest using the same tyre compound.

The race starts at 16:10 tomorrow (14h10 CET.)

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Ready for qualifying

Posted: 28.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

Seb fastest and Kimi 3rd in P3

Baku, 28 April –Ferrari were first and third in the final free practice session at the track in the heart of the Azerbaijan capital. Sebastian Vettel did a 1’43”091, running on Ultrasofts. His Finnish team-mate used the same tyres on his way to a best time of 1’43”493. With just a few minutes of the session remaining, the red flag came out following a crash for Williams driver Sirotkin. The session restarted with just three minutes to go. The action resumes at 17h00 local time (15h00 CET) with qualifying, when it is expected to be overcast with gusts of wind.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – “We took the right decision today”

Posted: 27.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

Kimi happy with set-up changes, Seb satisfied with race pace

Baku, April 27 – On a track which sees constant improvement as the asphalt cleans up and more rubber is laid down, Kimi Raikkonen made the best of the set-up improvements established in the first session to go second fastest in Practice 2. Team-mate Sebastian Vettel never managed a fast lap run (both using Ultrasofts) and subsequently focused on long runs for the remainder of the late afternoon session.

“It was an ok day”, said Kimi. “It was not very easy to start with, so during the first practice we decided to switch to a different set up. Unfortunately these kind of changes take quite a long time, but I’d rather skip or lose some track time in the first session and be ready in the second one. All in all, it was the right decision and our P2 was pretty decent. This is a street circuit but not a traditional one. The grip was really limited, especially since low downforce settings are used here. For sure there are things to improve as always, but we were not far from the top today. I think the long run was ok, the race pace looks good. Now we have to analyze all the data and see what we can do for tomorrow”.

“I think that in this place it is quite tricky to find the rhythm and in the first session I didn’t,” Seb commented. “At the beginning of the second one I lacked pace and could not put the lap together, but that can happen very easily here. I made some mistakes under braking, but I think that the long run was a little better. I think we can improve the car for tomorrow and it should be ok. It’s just the beginning after all. We have to understand what the car needs and we have a little bit of time to reset. Hopefully, it can be better tomorrow”.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku P2: Kimi second

Posted: 27.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

Testing three tyre types, Seb 11th

Baku, 27 April – In the second free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the two Ferrari SF71Hs finished second and eleventh. Kimi Raikkonen posted a 1’42”864 and team-mate Sebastian Vettel did a 1’44”127, as a result of making a mistake on his quick lap, before concentrating on race pace. The German used Supersoft and Ultrasoft tyres, while Kimi ran Soft and and Ultrasoft. Tomorrow’s final free practice session gets underway at 14h00 local time, 12h00 CET.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku, first session done

Posted: 27.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

Set-up work on the two SF71Hs

Baku, 27 April –  The first free practice session for the Azerbaijan GP ended at 14h30 local time (12h30 CET.) as usual on this street circuit, the track surface was very dirty at the start of the session, offering little grip. Therefore, after a handful of installation laps on the Ultrasoft tyres, Kimi Raikkonen pitted for a major set-up[ change in preparation for P2. Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel completed a few more laps, also on the Purple-banded tyres. He was tenth fastest in 1’46”513, while Kimi did a 1’46”861, which put him in 15th place. The second session starts at 17h00 local time, 15h00 CET.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – “We expect to be fighting at the front”

Posted: 26.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

Kimi and Seb ahead of the Baku race: “Speed wise, the car is good”

Baku, April 26, 2018 – Moving the Azerbaijani Grand Prix up the calendar is having a significant impact on the conditions which can be expected for the weekend. Nights are chilly in Baku at the end of April, and a strong, gusty wind is sweeping the six Kilometre long track. Scuderia Ferrari drivers are gearing up for the first “street” race of the season, and tomorrow’s first practice session which takes place at 1 pm local time (11 am CET) will see the two SF71Hs running some new components.

Kimi Raikkonen gives his comment on the circuit: “To be good here in Baku you don’t need anything more than at any other track. Obviously it’s a different layout, a kind of street circuit, but quite an open one, apart from the very tight area around turn 9 and 10. For a street circuit, it requires quite a low downforce level, probably the first one of this kind we run this season. We need to be stronger everywhere, but I think that our car has been good so far. Speed wise we have been pretty ok, It would be a surprise if we cannot fight at the front. The feeling with the car has been pretty straightforward so far this season. I think we improved since the first test; tires played a big part in it, with better and stronger front ones. For sure there are always things to improve, but that’s a never ending story in Formula One. We need to tidy up certain elements and do things in a stronger way. But if we keep working the way we are, I’m sure things will go in the right direction. Let’s see how this weekend goes. It’s a long way to the end of the season, and I want to do well”.

Sebastian Vettel adds: “It is exciting to be here in Baku and we are going to try and start from the front row. This track is quite nice, with the exception of the straights, which are maybe a little too long… But they are part of the ‘soul’ of the track, so overall I like it, I think it is quite challenging”.

Looking at the broader picture, Seb said: “We know that we built a good car and that we have a big potential to make it faster. That’s what we are working on. I believe you always learn something from every race and I think last year Baku was very different from all the other races. I hope to be the man to beat, but it’s a long season. At the moment things looks good, but it doesn’t mean anything. The last three races of the year will mean much more than the first ones…”.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – An uncompromising circuit

Posted: 24.04.2018
Source: Ferrari

To Baku for a round split between continents

Asia or Europe? When one speaks of Baku and the Azerbaijan GP it is a legitimate question. Geographically, the Caucasian republic is without a doubt on the Asian continent, but it’s a member of the Council of Europe and the inaugural edition of this race was even named the GP of Europe.

However, from a logistical perspective, the situation is pretty clear: the Azerbaijan GP brings to an end the opening run of “flyaway” races. Most of Scuderia Ferrari’s equipment has come directly from China and only after Sunday’s race will it all be repatriated for servicing prior to the Spanish round.

Therefore, this weekend, preparations are taking place for a completely unique and uncompromising circuit. It runs anti-clockwise over six kilometres, with around twenty turns, almost all of them right-angled, in the old part of the capital city, featuring the tightest “dogleg” of the championship, where the track passes the Maiden Tower, before ending with two kilometres absolutely flat out along the Promenade that runs alongside the Caspian Sea, which looks particularly lovely at night.

Car set-up also leaves no room for compromise: the long straight requires low downforce aero settings to ensure maximum speed and to allow the driver to attack and defend in the race. Even if the road surface has been prepared for the Grand Prix, some of the negatives of a street track, such as the unwanted arrival of plastic carrier bags, are almost inevitable. Tyre choice is from the softer end of the spectrum, with Soft, Supersoft and Ultrasoft compounds available.