Summary

  • Vettel on pole, Hamilton 2nd, Bottas 3rd

  • Race Sunday at 13:10 BST

  • Toro Rossos narrowly avoiding huge collision, Vandoorne out in Q1

  1. Thanks and goodbyepublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    And that is the end of this live page.

    We will back up and running at 11:30 BST on Sunday, before the race starts at 13:10.

    Thanks for joining us and for all your comments and see you tomorrow.

    Title leader Sebastian Vettel in pole, world champion Lewis Hamilton in second. It is going to be good.

  2. Postpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    That was Sebastian Vettel's 53rd pole of his career, 20 less than Lewis Hamilton.

    Pole PositionsImage source, .
  3. Vettel beats Hamilton to Azerbaijan pole - read the reportpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    VettelImage source, AFP

    Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel beat Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to take his third consecutive pole position.

    The German, nine points clear of Hamilton in the championship, was just 0.179 seconds clear of his rival around the demanding Baku street circuit.

    Kimi Raikkonen was on course to snatch pole from his team-mate only to make a mistake at the final corner of his lap.

    The Finn was sixth, behind Valtteri Bottas' Mercedes and the Red Bulls.

  4. Who will finish in the top three?published at 15:47 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    There's still time to make your Baku predictions for tomorrow's race.

    Vettel may have taken his 53rd career pole position but can he seal his first win at the Azerbaijan street circuit?

    Make your selections for the podium top three here.

    Baku predictionsImage source, Getty Images
  5. 'A very demanding race'published at 15:43 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Once again, McLaren fail to make it into Q3.

    Fernando Alonso, who starts 12th after qualifying 13th, told Sky Sports: "The wind picked up and we were losing speed on the straights. It is important to be in a group of cars tomorrow.

    "We have to make a step forward from Barcelona onwards. It is going to be a very demanding race, there is zero room for mistakes and there will be a lot of action tomorrow, you have to stay out of trouble and maximise the points."

    Team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne, who qualified 16th, added: "It was a difficult start to the weekend. Qualifying was the only session I managed to get a lap in and I felt a lot more comfortable. Our race performance looks a lot better, hopefully we can pull out a good race tomorrow."

  6. 'A big step forward'published at 15:40 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    And what do the Williams team feel about their performance, with both drivers advancing into Q2?

    Lance Stroll, who qualified 11th but starts 10th because of Nico Hulkenberg's grid penalty, said: "It is a big step forward, we want to keep moving forward. I'm really happy with the team, with both cars getting into Q2.

    "We are more in the hunt this weekend, which is nice to see. It is a long race, anything can happen and we will see what we can do."

    Sergey Sirotkin, who will start 11th, told Sky Sports: "My mistake in the morning (when he went into the wall) was not the most clever.

    "But it is a good day, there was a bit more to squeeze out from my lap. After what happened in P3, it was a good achievement to recover. I am thankful for the team of what they are doing here and back at the factory."

  7. 'Whenever there is wind the car feels horrible'published at 15:35 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Daniel Ricciardo won last time out in China and won in Azerbaijan in 2017, but tomorrow he starts fourth.

    He told Sky Sports: "It was all right. It was a decent last lap. Saturday is important, but we have proved lately that Sunday is the really important day.

    "We have a really good car, we don't know the track conditions tomorrow, 50 mile an hour winds. Whenever there is wind the car feels horrible. I feel I'm driving well."

  8. Grosjean reactionpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    He starts last, but Romain Grosjean is still talking about a finish in the points.

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  9. 'We are bringing good progress'published at 15:27 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Esteban Ocon, who secured seventh spot on the grid, says: "We were solid and we are bringing good progress to the car. It was very enjoyable to drive today. We have the pace overall in the long runs."

  10. 'A massive opportunity'published at 15:23 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Force India's Sergio Perez, who starts eighth, one place behind team-mate Esteban Ocon, says: "As a team result it is a massive boost for us, we were clearly the fastest midfield team today.

    "I didn't get a clear lap up to Q3 so it was not an ideal preparation but I'm happy we made it. It was difficult having the tailwind through there.

    "Tomorrow is a massive opportunity to score a good amount of points for the team. It is going to be very interesting."

    Is a podium possible? He replies: "On pace, I don't think so."

  11. The top eightpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Only four teams have drivers in the top eight on the grid tomorrow.

    Ferrari: First and sixth (Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen)

    Mercedes: Second and third (Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas)

    Red Bull: Fourth and fifth (Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen)

    Force India: Seventh and eight (Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez)

  12. get involved

    Get Involved - #bbcf1published at 15:16 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    BobbyKrystal: Kimi has made the chances of Ferrari winning tomorrow Azerbaijan GP, external reduced some bit. P6 is just very below par. He messed it up

    KimiImage source, Getty Images
  13. 'We are up for the fight'published at 15:13 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas, who starts in third position tomorrow, is asked if his team can take the fight to Ferrari. He replies: "For sure we can, we are starting really close, this race can be crazy so we are up for the fight.

    "Last year I was one lap down from lap one and came second so anything can happen."

    Baku qualifyingImage source, Reuters
  14. 'Ferrari have a phenomenal car'published at 15:12 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    World champion Lewis Hamilton says: "It was close and we did the best we could.

    "Sebastian did good job, they were quickest. They have a phenomenal car this year, but we are in the mix and I'll try to give Sebastian a hard time tomorrow."

    Lewis HamiltonImage source, Reuters
  15. 'Our car was really good this afternoon'published at 15:10 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Sebastian Vettel, who will start in pole position, says: "I felt the car was good in Q1 and Q2 and I knew I had the car I wanted.

    "There were two tiny bits when it was not exact perfect so I knew in the second run I would have to go out and get it again. Fortunately it was enough, so I'm really happy.

    "It will be an intense race, safety cars are very likely. Our car was really good this afternoon. Yesterday I struggled with confidence and trust in the car, which is important. We got pole so cant be much more happy."

    Sebastian VettelImage source, Reuters
  16. How they finished in qualifyingpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    1. Sebastian Vettel
    2. Lewis Hamilton
    3. Valtteri Bottas
    4. Daniel Ricciardo
    5. Max Verstappen
    6. Kimi Raikkonen
    7. Esteban Ocon
    8. Sergio Perez
    9. Nico Hulkenberg (five place grid penalty - gearbox change)
    10. Carlos Sainz
    11. Lance Stroll
    12. Sergey Sirotkin
    13. Fernando Alonso
    14. Charles Leclerc
    15. Kevin Magnussen
    16. Stoffel Vandoorne
    17. Pierre Gasly
    18. Marcus Ericsson
    19. Brendon Hartley
    20. Romain Grosjean
  17. Vettel on pole, Hamilton secondpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
    Breaking

    The championship top two are the front row in Azerbaijan.

    Championship leader Sebastian Vettel is on pole, with world champion Lewis Hamilton joining him on the front row, in second.

    vettelImage source, Reuters
  18. Postpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Daniel Ricciardo fourth, Max Verstappen fifth.

  19. Postpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    But an error from Raikkonen in sector three and he is only sixth. The Red Bulls are still out there.

  20. Postpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 28 April 2018

    Kimi Raikkonen fastest in sector one and two.

    KimiImage source, EPA