Azerbaijan GP: Frustrating qualifying for Williams Racing

Team Summary:
Qualifying for the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix would see a queue of cars waiting at the end of the pits including one of the Williams. Everyone was using the soft tyres in the opening eighteen minute period. The second Williams would take to the track as everyone fought for track position as the times started to come in with Ocon setting a 1m:44.207 followed by Vettel and Magnussen. But Verstappen was quickest with a 1m:42.938 followed by Perez, Leclerc, Sainz, Ocon and Vettel. The Williams drivers were currently 15th and 18th as Russell had moved into fourth ahead of Sainz. Norris was in sixth but would drop to eighth. Zhou was now fifth with the order currently Leclerc with a 1m:42.865 followed by Verstappen, Sainz, Perez, Zhou, Russell, Ocon, Gasly, Alonso, and Norris tenth.

Verstappen would improve with a 1m:42.722 now ahead of Perez, Leclerc and Sainz. The Williams drivers were now 16th and 18th and both had pitted. Stroll would go off into the barrier but was able to continue. Both Williams cars had returned for a second soft tyre run but would not be able to set a time because of a Red Flag from Stroll crashing a second time. With the restart there again would be a queue of cars at the pit exit and with the restart there would be a question as to whether cars would make it to the start line to start their laps. They would all make it making it a one lap dash. With the end of the period it would be Verstappen quickest from Perez, Leclerc, Sainz, Gasly, Vettel, Tsunoda, Russell, Zhou and Ocon tenth.

The second period would see the top ten finish as Perez quickest from Leclerc, Sainz, Verstappen, Gasly, Hamilton, Vettel, Russell, Alonso, and Tsunoda in tenth. The final period would see the first runs end with Sainz quickest with a 1m:41.814 from Leclerc, Perez, Verstappen, Gasly, Russell, Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso and Tsunoda tenth. With new tyres fitted the top ten cars would start their second runs in the final period and it would be Leclerc who would go quickest with an 1m:41.359 from Perez, Verstappen, Sainz, Russell, Gasly, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Vettel and Alonso tenth. So it would be pole for Leclerc with the Red Bull pair behind him. As for Williams Racing qualifying would finish in 17th and 18th after what was a disappointing but equally frustrating session especially after the final run traffic that had affected Alex on his last run. Now it would come down to making the most of any opportunities in Sundays race.

Alex Albon:
Alex would also come out for his first run also using the soft tyre being one of the later drivers to come out. He would set a 1m:44.989 to be 14th. But he would drop to 16th and even with a 1m:44.719 remained 16th. Alex would also pit after a five lap run. He would return for another run but would have to pit with a Red Flag. H would return and join the last group of cars coming out for the final lap. He would fail to improve finishing in 17th. Alex would complain to his engineer about a car in front, Alonso, deliberately driving slowly ruining his lap and that he should be penalised.

Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas would be first out in the opening period of qualifying using the soft tyre and would set a 1m:45.738 to currently be 14th. This would become 18th but with a 1m:45.3567 he would improve to be 17th. But he would drop to 18th behind Bottas. He would pit after a five lap run. He would return but would not set a time because of a Red Flag seeing him forced to pit. He would return and was able to start his final lap but would pit after having failed to improve finishing in 18th.