Ferrari from hope to nightmare: Piastri crashes while Verstappen soars
Qualifying at the Baku Grand Prix was chaotic, and Ferrari appeared completely lost. After Friday’s promising start with Lewis Hamilton in first and Charles Leclerc in second, Saturday turned into a nightmare. It was dark, deep, and unacceptable: Charles Leclerc crashed during qualifying and will start the race from 10th on the grid, while Lewis Hamilton didn’t even make it into Q3 and will line up 12th. It is unclear what exactly is happening at Ferrari. In fact, it often seems impossible to understand. There is something almost inexplicable—perhaps even a curse—that prevents Leclerc and Hamilton from achieving results they clearly deserve, even when the car is competitive, the conditions seem favorable, and the team appears ready.
Could a simple drop in temperature from Friday, ranging between 4 and 8 degrees, really explain yet another failure and disappointment? It is difficult to untangle such a complicated situation. And above all, it is puzzling why only Ferrari loses its way under certain conditions while other teams thrive. Hamilton looked extremely disappointed, sadness etched across his face, a sense of abandonment in his posture. Charles Leclerc seemed lost, staring off into the distance, burdened with doubts, whereas on Friday he had been full of energy and confidence. And yet, they are the acrobats of slippery tracks. Truly perplexing.
This is Ferrari’s pre-race picture in Azerbaijan: a blurred, black-and-white snapshot with only the faint hope that the race might go better. Baku is notorious for frequent Safety Cars, so perhaps an unexpected result could emerge. This time, however, Ferrari is not alone in experiencing misfortune. Oscar Piastri also crashed into the barriers—perhaps a small consolation for Leclerc rather than a regret over a lost opportunity. Oscar had not made a mistake in two years, and now Lando Norris is ready to close the gap in the championship standings. Curiously, the fifth row features Piastri in 9th and Leclerc alongside him, when everyone expected them at the front, contending for the lead. Hamilton will start immediately behind them, struggling: “I thought I could take pole position,” he said sadly, aware that Ferrari had the potential to achieve much more but failed to deliver.
Verstappen dominates and surprises arise
The pole sitter, unsurprisingly, was Max Verstappen, delivering another brilliant lap when conditions were tricky and the asphalt treacherous. But the real surprise came from Carlos Sainz, who claimed second place with the Williams. Even more remarkable was Lawson securing third with the Racing Bulls, followed by Antonelli in fourth. Lando Norris will start seventh after Piastri’s crash prompted a cautious approach. The rest of the field followed. One cannot help but wonder why the Williams and the Racing Bulls of Faenza executed flawlessly while Ferrari panicked in critical moments. There is no single answer. Unfortunately, there are many…
For Ferrari, the task ahead is daunting. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will have to push to their limits to recover positions on the tricky Baku street circuit. Tire management, strategy calls, and driver skill will be key to turning a chaotic qualifying into a respectable race result. Despite the setbacks, the Scuderia must find a way to regain focus, calm nerves, and extract the full potential of the SF-25 to score crucial points in a challenging environment. The story of Ferrari in Azerbaijan is far from over, but it will require every ounce of precision, resilience, and determination from both the team and its drivers.
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