Breaking News: Post-Qualifying Press Conference Transcript from Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024

Sergio Perez Clinches Pole Position in Baku

Perez Dominates Qualifying, Leclerc and Verstappen Follow

Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing has secured pole position for the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Mexican driver set a blistering lap time of 1:43.184 during the qualifying session, edging out Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing.

Leclerc finished just 0.160 seconds behind Perez, while Verstappen was slightly further back in third, 0.250 seconds off the pace. The top three drivers were closely matched throughout qualifying, but Perez ultimately prevailed with a superb lap in the final minutes.

George Russell of Mercedes and Lando Norris of McLaren rounded out the top five, followed by Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Esteban Ocon of Alpine, and Alex Albon of Williams. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, could only manage ninth place in the other Mercedes.

Perez Reflects on Pole Position

"It feels incredible to get pole position here in Baku," said Perez after qualifying. "It was a very intense session, and the competition was very close. I'm really happy with the job that the team has done, and I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow."

Perez acknowledged the difficulty of the Baku City Circuit, but he expressed confidence in his ability to convert his pole position into a race win.

Leclerc Disappointed but Determined

Leclerc admitted to being slightly disappointed with his second-place finish, but he remained upbeat about his chances in the race.

"Of course, I would have liked to get pole position," said Leclerc. "But Sergio did a great job today. We'll analyze the data and see where we can improve for tomorrow. I'm still confident that we can have a strong race and fight for the win."

Verstappen Aiming for Podium

Verstappen, who won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2021, is targeting a podium finish this year despite starting from third.

"It's not the ideal starting position," said Verstappen. "But we have a good car, and I'm confident that we can make our way through the field. The race is long, and anything can happen."

Intriguing Race Expected

With Perez on pole position and Leclerc and Verstappen close behind, the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises to be an exciting and unpredictable race. The Baku City Circuit is known for its high-speed straights and challenging corners, making it one of the most demanding tracks on the Formula 1 calendar.

The race is scheduled to start at 14:00 local time on Sunday, June 2.