Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Qualifying Facts and Stats

The drama just keeps on coming in Baku, with Valtteri Bottas becoming the first repeat polesitter of 2019 in a dramatic qualifying session. Here are some other notes of statistical significance…

• The top three qualifiers in Azerbaijan mirror the top three qualifiers from China, with Mercedes taking a 60th front-row lockout. That leaves the Silver Arrows two short of the record
• In finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, who came close to winning in Baku last year, out-qualifies a team mate for the first time in four races in Azerbaijan
• Sebastian Vettel, meanwhile, maintains his record of starting in the top four in every race held in Baku to date. The German will start third, one place ahead of Max Verstappen, who tied Red Bull’s best qualifying result of the year with fourth (his best Baku grid slot ever)
• Sergio Perez, who has the most podium finishes of anyone in Baku with two, secured his best grid slot since last year’s Belgian Grand Prix with fifth place

• Daniil Kvyat, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Friday, secured his first top-six qualifying slot since… he qualified sixth in Azerbaijan in 2016
• Lando Norris recorded his best-ever qualifying with P7, which equals McLaren’s best starting slot of the year
• Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi captured two firsts: his first-ever Q3 appearance and the first time he has out-qualified team mate Kimi Raikkonen. Sadly for the Italian, with his grid penalty he drops from P8 to P18
• Daniel Ricciardo qualified outside the top 10 for the first time ever in Azerbaijan. Romain Grosjean on the other hand fell at the Q1 stage for the third consecutive year in Baku.
• Speaking of Q1 exits, Lance Stroll’s poor run now extends to eight successive races without advancing to Q2 or beyond