Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying betting tips and F1 predictions: Don't count out Verstappen in pole battle

Where to watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday

Practice three
Sky Sports F1, 9am

Qualifying
Sky Sports F1, 2pm

Best bet

Max Verstappen fastest qualifier
1pt 3-1 general

Italian Grand Prix predictions

Having gone ten races without a top-five finish, Sergio Perez desperately needs a strong weekend and the Red Bull man looked in decent shape on practice day at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Mexican often goes well at the tricky Baku City Circuit. He is the only driver to have won there more than once, the latest of his two triumphs coming last year, although the race was much earlier in the season.

Red Bull looked to have taken another step backwards in Italy last time as Max Verstappen and Perez trailed home sixth and eighth.

Verstappen’s dominant start to the season means he still holds a 62-point lead, but with McLaren looking the class of an increasingly congested front of the field, that advantage could disappear quickly.

Verstappen ended the first day sixth, half a second away from his second-placed teammate, but there is doubtless more to come from the Dutchman.

It was notable that the Red Bulls were fastest of all through the slow sections of the track but gave up a lot of time on the long straight. That suggests their engines were running more conservatively than most – a common Red Bull tactic on Fridays – and Verstappen could be a value option to take pole position.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the winner in Italy, is always quick in Baku and he again topped the times although it wasn’t a straightforward day for the Monegasque.

He crashed midway through the morning session and wasn’t initially happy with the repair job his team had done in the afternoon.

Leclerc has taken the last three pole positions in Azerbaijan, though, and is sure to be in the mix.

Lando Norris goes into the weekend having been told his McLaren team will now prioritise him over teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished ahead of the Brit at Monza.

Norris ended day one at Baku only 17th, but did not manage to set a clean lap. Piastri, meanwhile, was fifth but looked strongest of all on the race simulation runs.

Lewis Hamilton was third fastest, less than a tenth of a second off the pace.

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