Azerbaijan GP | Charles Leclerc reveals why he’s so strong at Baku: “I think there’s probably…”
Charles Leclerc has shared his thoughts on the reasons behind his incredible connection with the Baku circuit, offering insight into what makes the streets of Azerbaijan so special for the Monegasque driver ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver has often highlighted the unique feeling he gets at this track, and he explained his perspective in the lead-up to this weekend’s race. As we have already covered in previous articles, Baku has always been a particularly important weekend for both Ferrari and Leclerc. The driver has consistently demonstrated outstanding speed on the Azerbaijan streets, and analysis of his lap patterns shows the key points where the #16 has built his successful pole position laps over the years.
If Charles Leclerc were to claim pole once again, it would mark his fifth consecutive pole at Baku since 2021, matching a remarkable statistic previously held by Michael Schumacher. However, despite his qualifying success, neither Charles Leclerc nor Ferrari has ever converted this advantage into a race victory in Azerbaijan, making this weekend full of anticipation and expectations.
Charles Leclerc: “It’s a feeling I really enjoy”
Charles Leclerc explained his special connection with the circuit: “I think over the past few years I’ve been particularly strong here compared to my teammates. I believe there’s probably something about the characteristics of this track that suits my driving style a bit better. There isn’t one section I prefer over another; it’s just the overall feel of the circuit: being fully committed under braking, knowing that the smallest lock-up can make all the difference because there’s no way to recover in the corner. It’s a feeling I really enjoy, especially in qualifying, where you have to push to the maximum and take all the risks. It’s an adrenaline rush that I really like.” – the Monegasque driver pointed out.
Charles Leclerc believes that a strong result is possible this weekend. However, the competition will be fierce. It won’t be just McLaren challenging at the front; Red Bull and Max Verstappen, fresh off his victory at Monza, are expected to be leading contenders once again. Leclerc commented on the challenge: “I think Red Bull has probably found something, perhaps they have brought upgrades to the car that have allowed them to make a step forward. I think we will be behind them, but this is a track I particularly enjoy, where I’ve achieved excellent single-lap results.”
With Baku’s unique characteristics and the adrenaline-packed qualifying sessions ahead, Charles Leclerc remains confident in his ability to deliver a strong performance for Ferrari, even if converting pole positions into a race win continues to be the ultimate challenge.
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