Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Ocon are both set to start from the pit lane at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024, despite Hamilton originally qualifying seventh. Hamilton incurred a penalty after his team installed a fifth power unit into his car post-qualifying, necessitating a pit-lane start.
Hamilton struggled with pace during qualifying, his best Q3 lap falling nearly a second short of Charles Leclerc’s pole-setting time. This slower performance added complexity to an already varied grid, which will see Lando Norris starting further back after an early exit in Q1.
This shuffle also moved Norris up to 15th on the grid, following Pierre Gasly’s disqualification due to a fuel flow infringement. The extended DRS zone along the home straight in Baku will likely aid Hamilton and Norris in making up ground, with the potential for safety car deployments given the circuit’s unpredictability.
Hamilton noted a significant change in performance from the previous day, attributing it to difficulties in maintaining optimal tyre temperatures. “Yesterday the car was amazing…but today, the tyres just didn’t work,” Hamilton commented. He faced additional challenges at the start of his final Q3 lap due to a delay caused by Alex Albon’s Williams blocking the pit lane exit, which disrupted his tyre preparation.
Mercedes accepted the penalty in Baku after disappointing qualifying results, considering the track’s long straights and demanding tyre management for the race. Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss, mentioned that this issue also affected George Russell, indicating a broader challenge for the team with tyre performance under the race conditions.
