But when push came to shove, Hamilton started locking his brakes and having to take to the escape roads.
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Team mate Nico Rosberg starts on pole, with a chance of extending his championship advantage of 9 points in the race. Force India Mercedes – Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Sauber Ferrari – Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:47.989, 5. Manor Mercedes – Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto.
But the title momentum has now swung back in Rosberg’s direction with the world champion facing an afternoon of damage limitation following his uncharacteristic mistake on the entry to turn 10.
“It was one of the more challenging sessions out there and everything worked out well”, said Rosberg. “I think he is right”, said Ecclestone. Unfortunately I had some traffic on my second run and I just didn’t feel the same grip with the vehicle – and that’s how quickly things can slip away from you. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), 5. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1:46.812, 3. “This is the circuit, don’t like then go home”, he added.
“Thanks to the team for getting me out at the front and giving me that clear track to make sure that I got a lap in”, he said. Esteban Gutierrez (Haas), 16.
In the final moments Sainz improved up top seventh. All drivers ran on supersoft tires in that session. I thought that was looking like that was it. They got me out in front and then I put in the lap, so it was good.
It was also a stark day for Renault, whose two drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer are at the back of the grid – almost two seconds slower in Q1 than the Red Bull of Ricciardo, which uses the same engine. Hamilton ended up tenth. He did a last gasp lap and moved into second with 1:43.526.
Ricciardo said that the vehicle has improved over the weekend.
Vettel, who will be promoted to third following Perez’s penalty, was disappointed to find himself behind the Red Bull.
Q3 lasted 12 minutes. Hamilton has a long way to go to slice through that field, but he should be able to find both pace and time to do that.
Now Hamilton and Rosberg were on their fliers. “It’s the first time we’ve seen that [with Hamilton] this year; he has always delivered”. However, as he exited the complex of corners around Baku’s Old City, Hamilton clipped the wall on the apex of Turn 11 and broke his front-right suspension.
Ricciardo vaulted up to third, but Verstappen could only manage ninth.
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Perez plays a blinder again If only Perez knew he would qualify second. The accident forced him to change his gearbox, and he will take a five-place grid penalty.
