Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying: Valtteri Bottas Takes Pole In Mercedes' Fourth One-Two Race of the Season

Mercedes finished the final qualifying session with a one-two race lead as Valtteri Bottas took career eighth pole position ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton in Baku on Saturday.
Hamilton trailed 0.059 behind the German who leapt ahead of the Briton in the final lap to cross the finish line in pole in 1:40.495 and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took third place with 0.302sec late.
Meanwhile, it was a dramatic race with Charles Leclerc and Vettel crashing in the wall at Turn Eight, leading the Monegasque Scuderia Ferrari driver who led practice 3 to drop to ninth position.
"I am very disappointed in myself," Leclerc lamented and described himself as "stupid" over the accident "I have been very strong all weekend but it is a mistake I shouldn't have done. I will focus on that for a few hours and understand what I could have done to not have that mistake."
Hamilton shared the Scuderia Ferrari driver's pain speaking after the race and admitted he would "be the same" as him if he was in his situation.
"That's how we're tuned as racing drivers," says Hamilton 2 When it's your mistake we're tough on ourselves. Maybe a little bit less when you're older. But still, it's painful."
Mercedes were not impeded by the chaotic incident and finished the race with their fourth consecutive one-two race of the season and Hamilton leads in driver standings with 68 points followed by Bottas in second place with 62 points.