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Lewis Hamilton claimed his 66th career pole position in Baku after setting a monstrous lap time of 1:40.539. The Brit's time was four and a half tenths faster than teammate Valtteri Bottas, who was provisionally sitting on pole position.
After the first runs, Bottas set the fastest time ahead of Hamilton. However, Daniel Ricciardo then crashed his Red Bull at Turn 6 after losing the rear of the car. All laps had to be abandoned with three and a half minutes to go. When the green flag was waved, a determined Hamilton stormed out of the pits to claim the top spot.
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"That was one of the most exciting laps I've had all year," Hamilton said. "So pumped with that. That's how qualifying should be. The first lap I easily had the time, I just make a mistake in the last corner.
"It was a lot of pressure. We've been struggling to get temperature in these tyres, we don't know if it's a one-lap tyre It was all or nothing. But the lap just got better and better throughout and I saw Valtteri just ahead, I knew he was doing a good lap.
"I remember just coming down from the last corner, I was like, 'Please be enough'. I'm ecstatic, I'm so happy. I'm just thankful that I was able to pull a lap together. The team did a great job to make our cars and put us out at the right times, so a big thank you to them."
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (1)
Login to replyF1racefan97
Posts: 113
Certainly a great run to be that far clear of bottas and that far clear of the Ferraris