Verstappen explained that changes made to his car’s setup during the qualifying sessions did not yield the expected improvements. Instead, these adjustments worsened the car’s handling, especially in the first qualifying session (Q1), where he experienced significant bouncing and struggled with cornering. Despite an improvement in Q2, Verstappen felt the car still lacked the necessary balance, especially with understeer—something you don’t want on a street circuit like Baku.
He praised Ferrari and Leclerc, stating their combination was particularly powerful on this track.
On the other hand, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri commented that Baku’s challenging layout rewards brave driving but admitted that he came dangerously close to the barriers. He remained optimistic about McLaren’s race pace, though he acknowledged that overtaking would be difficult due to the track’s nature.
Both drivers highlighted the technical and strategic challenges presented by the demanding Baku street circuit.
