Let's break down the comparison between Charles Leclerc’s pole lap and Oscar Piastri’s lap, who was 0.321 seconds behind after a Q3 session that Ferrari dominated. Leclerc pieced together what can only be described as a "perfect lap," gaining time over Piastri in almost every sector. In all but two corners—Turn 3, where he lifted much earlier than car 81, and Turn 15—Leclerc consistently carried more speed through the middle of the corner, expertly managing the pedals. This technique is a hallmark of Leclerc’s driving, which sets him apart on the grid.
Charles Leclerc’s unique style involves a semi-open throttle technique, or “trailing throttle,” which helps balance the car during cornering by maintaining slightly higher revs. This approach ensures a smooth transition of power to the wheels and improves traction on corner exit. It also compensates for the oversteer issues Ferrari struggled with during free practice sessions, where the car’s weight would shift too far forward under braking, leaving the rear light.
By keeping the throttle partially open, Leclerc distributes the car’s weight more evenly, stabilizing the rear end and enhancing balance through the corner and on exit. His mastery of this technique made a noticeable impact in Turn 16, where he outperformed Piastri. Although both drivers braked at the same point, Leclerc was able to get on the power earlier, avoiding the oversteer that often plagues this section of the track.
Turn 16 is especially critical in Azerbaijan, as it directly affects the performance on the track's long 2200-meter straight, where drivers go full throttle for over 20 seconds. This corner isn’t just important for qualifying—it also plays a crucial role during the race, as a strong exit sets the stage for both attacking and defending. Ferrari paid close attention to optimizing this section, ensuring Leclerc could maximize his performance both in qualifying and in today’s race, where managing tire degradation will be vital.
Leclerc has praised the car's handling, noting that it felt comfortable from the start, requiring only minor tweaks to the setup. Ferrari’s choice of aerodynamic load also seems spot on: they opted for the same rear wing used in Spa, with slightly less downforce than McLaren, which gives the Ferrari a speed advantage of around 3 km/h on the main straight and in acceleration zones. This speed boost could prove decisive in defending against challengers during the race, adding to Leclerc’s already impressive tire management skills from recent races.
OUTLINE:
00:00:00 Ferrari's Pole Position at Baku
00:00:10 Initial Setup and Adjustments
00:00:34 Performance in Free Practice and Qualifying
00:00:44 Sector Performance Analysis
00:01:09 Setup Choices and Their Impact
00:01:45 Final Qualifying Results
00:03:36 Baku Q3 telemetry data
00:06:07 Red Bull's difficulties
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