He expressed disappointment, especially since these adjustments were meant to improve his lap times but had the opposite effect, resulting in a challenging session. Verstappen mentioned that his car struggled with rear-end instability and bouncing, making it difficult to handle in the corners.
Reflecting on Ferrari, Verstappen praised Leclerc’s combination with the Baku street circuit, calling it “really strong.” Leclerc has historically performed well in Baku, and Verstappen emphasized Ferrari’s competitive pace on this particular track.
Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver, also commented on the nature of the Baku circuit, stating that it “rewards courage.” Piastri admitted pushing his limits during qualifying, occasionally getting too close to the barriers, but felt satisfied with the overall performance of his car, particularly in race pace. He acknowledged that following other cars might be difficult on the narrow street circuit but remained optimistic about McLaren’s chances.
