Lewis Hamilton blitzes F1 field with phenomenal last lap to secure pole position for Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Just as in Canada a fortnight previously, Lewis Hamilton made it count when it mattered most to finish nearly half-a-second clear of his team-mate Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes locked out the front row for the second time in as many races.

Hamilton's championship rival Sebastian Vettel will start only fourth after he was out-qualified by his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen in Azerbaijan.

American pop group Black Eyed Peas and singer Nicole Scherzinger are both performing here on Saturday night. And unsurprisingly it was the former who Hamilton enjoyed a dinner date with in the Mercedes hospitality suite in the moments before qualifying.

There were rumblings in the paddock that the mere presence of Hamilton's former long-term girlfriend this weekend may ruffle his feathers. Indeed he reacted in a prickly fashion when a German journalist asked if he planned to see her.

"There are concerts at every race," Hamilton said. "I am focussed on winning the race." His crushing performance in qualifying has provided him with the chance to do just that.

The 66th pole of his career has moved him above Ayrton Senna and into a standalone second in the all-time list. Indeed Hamilton could match Michael Schumacher's pole record, of which he is now two short, in front of a capacity crowd at Silverstone for next month's British Grand Prix.

"I am so pumped with that pole, and that is how qualifying should be," Hamilton said. "Tomorrow will be a hard race but we are in the best position to start."

The narrow confines of the Baku City Circuit have caused a number of problems for drivers here with Turn Eight - the strip of tarmac which measures just 7.8 metres in width - the scene of two crashes.

But it was the right-handed Turn Six that caught Daniel Ricciardo on the hop as he lost the rear of his Red Bull and thudded into the wall.

The Australian sustained damage to the left rear of his car and was forced to stop on track. The red flags were immediately deployed and the clock stopped with three minutes and 33 seconds remaining.

Bottas held the advantage over Hamilton after the Briton made a mistake during his first run in the top-10 shootout. But with the odds against him, Hamilton responded in emphatic fashion to take his second consecutive pole.

For Vettel, who holds a 12-point lead over Hamilton in the title race, it has been a difficult weekend. He failed to trouble the time sheets yesterday, before missing most of final practice with a hydraulic issue.

Although his Ferrari team managed to resolve the failure in time for qualifying, Vettel was only fourth and 1.3 secs slower than Hamilton.

Jolyon Palmer is a man under pressure following his pointless start to the new season. The 26-year-old Englishman crashed yesterday before he was ruled out of qualifying after his Renault engine caught on fire during this morning's practice session.

His Renault team were unable to repair the damage caused by the blaze, and Palmer played no part. He will start from the back of the field.

Palmer however, will take some joy from the fact that he will not occupy the final row following yet another troublesome weekend for McLaren in another troublesome year.

Fernando Alonso is due to start last after serving a mammoth 40-place penalty following a raft of changes to his hapless Honda engine. His team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne will start one place higher up after he was penalised 35 spots following new parts on his engine and a new gearbox, too.

Alonso was knocked out of Q1 for the first time this year with his sluggish Honda engine struggling for speed on the longest straight on the calendar.

"Our speed is that slow that they think we are on a slow lap," Alonso told Sky Sports. "But no this is our speed."

Alonso's manager Flavio Briatore enjoyed a dinner in Baku with Mercedes bosses' Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda on Friday night before he was spotted having lunch at Renault today.

Alonso, 35, is out of contract with McLaren at the end of the season, and Briatore's very public dates will only heighten the British team's concern that their star man will leave.

4:24PM

That all important pole position

4:10PM

One down and two more to go...

3:58PM

Just a thought

If Hamilton (P1) and Vettel (P4) end the race in their starting positions, then Hamilton would lead the Championship by one solitary point ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. 

It is increasingly looking like a two-horse race for the title unless Bottas, Raikkonen or the Red Bull's start winning.

But first we have a race in Baku. Who do you think will win tomorrow? 

3:52PM

History in the making...

You genuinely could not write it more perfectly. Hamilton could match Schumacher's 68 laps at his home race of Silverstone in July if he also gets pole in Austria in two weeks time. 

3:43PM

A morose Sebastian

Vettel on starting from the second row: "The result is okay but I'm not entirely happy. This morning's hydraulic problem didn’t help but it’s not an excuse. I could’ve done a bit better, but P3 was the maximum [that was possible]."

3:41PM

Baku City Circuit

As you can imagine, that long straight down to Turn 1 is sure to create some drama tomorrow as drivers fight for position. 

3:35PM

Provisional places for the race

Note: Fernando Alonso will start from the back after being given a 40-place grid place penalty, while his McLaren team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne has been hit with a 30 place penalty, following a raft of new parts on his engine. 

Carlos Sainz has a three-place grid penalty for causing the accident that took out Felipe Massa and nearly ended Romain Grosjean's race in Canada, two weeks ago. 

Jolyon Palmer will also start from the back or the pit lane - dependent on the stewards decision - after failing to take part in qualifying after a fuel leak fire.

3:29PM

Force India: The most consistent team on the track?

They just keep it nice and steady, don't they? Perez and Ocon will start in P6/7 respectively. No wonder the big three teams are said to be sniffing around the two drivers. 

3:23PM

Ferrari thoughts

Even though they are on the second row, Vettel seemed to be struggling in the latter stages of qualifying. It will be interesting to see if it was the tyres or that recycled engine the team had to put back in the car. 

He may not look it, but Kimi has to be happy with P3. If he gets a good start, who knows where he can end up. 

3:20PM

Someone is a happy bunny

3:15PM

That puts him two behind Schumacher in the history books,

He could equal it at Silverstone 

3:13PM

Pole number 66 for Hamilton

Hamilton starts on pole ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen, Vettel, Verstappen, Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Massa and Ricciardo.

Very impressive from Hamilton as once again the Mercedes managed to find the pace when it mattered. 

3:10PM

LEWIS HAMILTON TAKES POLE

Bottas sets a time of 1:41.027 but Hamilton goes faster with a 1:40.593.

Raikkonen goes third with a 1:41.693 and Vettel tries but he will start behind his teammate. 

3:08PM

Who will be on pole?

Bottas has provisional pole as they aim to make this solitary lap count.

3:06PM

Three minutes left

The Mercedes are doing all they can to get some heat in their tyres as they've struggled to get them to the right temperature. 

They'll probably get one go each...

3:05PM

The queue grows

Bottas and Hamilton join Verstappen. And we're off!

3:04PM

Two minutes until we go again

Verstappen heads to the pitlane so he will be the first one back on track. Everyone else is in the pits with the blankets on their tyres. 

3:02PM

As it stands and while we wait

We wait for the marshals to move the car from the track. 

Bottas is currently on provisional pole ahead of Hamilton, Verstappen, Raikkonen, Ocon, Vettel, Ricciardo and Perez. 

When the race restarts most will only get one proper lap in. The race is definitely on. 

2:58PM

Red flags

Ricciardo is out. He says: "I lost the rear at turn six."

Thankfully he is fine as he gets out of the car.

The clock will stop at 3:33 as it's qualifying.

2:56PM

Three minutes left

Hamilton admits he made a mistake. He has asked if he has time to take new tyres, then he says it's fine. The Silver Arrows take to long to warm up and he'll know that. 

Bottas is still fastest ahead of his teammate

2:54PM

Six minutes left

Bottas goes fastest with 1:41.274 and Hamilton looked to be going ahead of him but lost some time in that final sector. He is second ahead of Verstappen, Raikkonen, Vettel, Ricciardo and Ocon. Perez, Massa and Stroll still to set a time. 

2:53PM

Seven minutes left

Vettel leads with a time of 1:43.194 ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen, Ricciardo and Hamilton.

The Mercedes seem to take longer to warm up their tyres so they will want to lock down that front row. 

Verstappen goes fastest

2:52PM

Eight minutes left

Bottas sets a time of 1:47.201 but that will drop rapidly in the next few minutes. 

2:51PM

Nine minutes left

We are still waiting for the first fast lap time with everyone out on track except Stroll and Perez.

2:48PM

Top ten shootout

We are underway and Hamilton, Bottas and Ricciardo are the first guys out on track. 

2:47PM

At the end of Q2

2:47PM

A brutal Fernando

Discussing getting in the way of Daniel Riciardo: "At the start they probably get confused coz our speed is so slow. They probably think we are on our way to the pitlane and not doing a fast lap."

2:43PM

Last laps 

I told you not to underestimate the German as he leaps into P2 with 1:41.911.

But Bottas made it out just in time and pushes the Ferrari into P3 as he clocks 1:41.502. 

Kvyat, Sainz, Magnussen, Hulkenberg and Wehrlein are all out. Stroll goes into Q3 in seventh spot. Judging by his "YES!" on the radio, he is a very happy young man. 

2:40PM

Moments left

Magnussen,  Hulkenberg and Magnussen all out. Sainz and Kvyat are trying not to join them.

2:39PM

Two minutes left

Ricciardo improves to move into P5, but Verstappen's time of 1:41.961 puts him behind Hamilton.

There is still over half a second between the top two though.

Magnussen is out of his Renault, he's damaged his tyre and he will start no higher than P13. 

2:37PM

Massa living dangerously

This is how close Massa was to taking the paint of the side of that Williams. 

2:36PM

Just over four minutes to go

Bottas heads back to the pits and Hamilton is knocking seconds off his own time with a 1:41.275.

Bottas is behind him and followed by Raikkonen, Verstappen and Perez. Stroll is still in sixth with Ricciardo, Vettel, Massa and Ocon behind. 

Sainz, Kvyat, Magnussen, Hulkenberg and Wehrlein are the bottom five at the moment. 

Vettel is looking slower than normal after they replaced his power unit with an old one. But you can never underestimate the former champion.

2:32PM

Seven minutes left

Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Wehrlein and Magnussen are the guys at risk of dropping out. 

Stroll has clearly got some confidence from his points finish in Canada as he moves up to sixth.

2:31PM

Nine minutes left

Hamilton goes fastest with a 1:41.992 with Bottas, 
Raikkonen, Perez and Verstappen behind him. Vettel is up to sixth

2:30PM

Red Bull worries

Verstappen has just told his team that he is having vibration issues again. It would be a shame if their lack of consistency messes up another weekend for the youngster. 

2:29PM

12 minutes left

Everyone is still on the supersofts and we will lose five more cars at the end of this session. 

Massa is taking some risks as he somehow squeezes through at Turn 8. Remember the cars are even wider this year and that is a very tight squeeze. We won't see them going two-by-two, that is for sure. 

2:26PM

Q2 is underway

Wehrlein is the first guy out on track followed the Mercedes who will want to get a good lap before the narrow track fills up with cars.

2:25PM

A word from Palmer who has a free afternoon

"I was feeling alright until the fire, I enjoyed driving the track. It's quite difficult and the walls are quite close but we found that out yesterday."

2:23PM

At the end of Q1

2:20PM

Q1 all but over

Kevin Magnussen finds some power out of nowhere to go into P14 and push Alonso into the drop zone. 

Alonso is joined by Grosjean, Ericsson and Vandoorne. 

2:18PM

Just over a minute left

Everyone is a bit tentative around Turn 8 after the crashes yesterday. But it looks like the decision to file down the kerb was a good one, for those of us who want to see a great race. 

Grosjean, Magnussen, Vandoorne and Ericsson are all in danger as they look to make their flying laps count.

2:16PM

Three minutes left

Sainz is 11th, ahead of Hulkenberg, Alonso, Stroll, Wehrlein, Grosjean, Vandoorne and Ericsson. 

Alonso and Vandoorne will start from the pitlane with their combined 70 grid place penalties... Vandoorne is now on his seventh power unit.

2:14PM

Tyre talk

Everyone is on the supersoft and Hamilton increases his lead as he sets a time of 1:41.983. 

He leads Verstappen, Raikkonen, Vettel, Bottas, Ocon, Perez, Massa, Ricciardo and Kvyat. 

2:11PM

Seven minutes left

Hamilton leads Verstappen, Ocon, Vettel and Perez. The Force India's have been impressive again this weekend. 

2:11PM

At risk

The drivers at the bottom and in desperate need of improving their times are Alonso, Vandoorne, Ericsson and Bottas. Remember, Palmer will not take part after a fuel leak caused a fire in his Renault. 

2:09PM

Nine minutes left...

Hamilton goes fastest, nearly half a second faster than Verstappen with a 1:42.384. 

No matter what problems they seem to have in practice, the Mercedes seem to find their feet in qualy.

2:08PM

Turn 2

Sainz is the latest driver to lose his car at the second turn and end up in the escape road so we have the yellow flags. Hopefully it won't mess with anyone else lap as they have to slow down slightly. 

So many drivers are struggling to get these tyres working for them, most taking two goes before they even attempt to do a flying lap. 

2:05PM

12 minutes left

We've got our first few times coming through Verstappen currently fastest with 1:43.750.

He leads Ricciardo, Stroll, Kvyat and Alonso.

2:02PM

15 minutes left

16 cars are out on the track as we wait for the first car to set a lap time. 

2:01PM

We are off

The Renault is ready for Q1 and so are we. 

1:57PM

Qualifying is moments away

Verstappen's Red Bull will make it out on track after he limped out of the final practice session. 

Everyone is getting ready and we will see who starts where on the grid, for the eighth race of the season. 

1:52PM

Ferrari news

Vettel has a new power unit so we will wait and see if the problems have been fixed and if the German driver can get his car on pole. 

1:51PM

Ten minutes to go...

We're nearly ready for the start of qualifying. 

Get your drinks, get your snacks and get comfortable.

1:40PM

Earlier today

In case you missed it, here is what happened in the final practice session:

Lewis Hamilton finished final practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in third as his championship rival Sebastian Vettel was struck down by a mechanical issue.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas topped the order at the Baku City Circuit after he edged out Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen by just 0.095 seconds with Hamilton, only 10th in practice on Friday, four tenths further back.

But for Vettel, who heads Hamilton in the title race by 12 points heading into the eighth round of the season, his morning was plagued by a technical problem.

The four-time champion was hauled back into the Ferrari garage with just half of the one-session completed, and he did not re-emerge.

Vettel's issue is yet to be diagnosed by the Italian team, but it will come as a hefty blow to the championship leader ahead of qualifying later on Saturday.

Vettel was not the only front runner to hit trouble with Red Bull's Max Verstappen, fastest in both practice sessions here on Friday, parking his Red Bull with 10 minutes remaining.

"There's something wrong with the engine," the teenager said before coming to an abrupt halt.

Jolyon Palmer is a man under pressure this weekend following his pointless start to the new season, and the Englishman suffered an engine failure in the opening moments of Saturday's morning running.

Palmer's Renault engine momentarily caught alight before the track marshals put the blaze out.

Fernando Alonso will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid following a series of changes to his Honda engine.

He will serve a mammoth 40-place grid drop, while his McLaren team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne has been penalised by 30 places following a raft of new parts on his engine, too. Alonso finished 14th on Saturday morning.

Elsewhere, Daniel Ricciardo was fourth for Red Bull ahead of Force India's Esteban Ocon with Verstappen in sixth.

1:36PM

Palmer update

The Briton will miss qualifying.

It was a fuel leak and the although it is being worked on, when your car is on fire, even the amazing F1 engineers and mechanics will struggle to get you running again in a couple of hours. 

1:34PM

How they ended practice three

1:34PM

The baby of the circuit

This is only the second time that Baku has been on the Formula One calendar. Last year was it's debut when Nico Rosberg won the race on his way to his one and only, World Championship. Vettel and Perez joined him on the podium. 

1:31PM

2018 

So France and Germany will be back on the calendar next season, with the former part of a triple header with Austria and Britain. 

That will be 21 races over eight months. We looked at some of the potential concerns.

1:28PM

The moment Palmer's weekend got even worse

1:23PM

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff

On Baku: "It's a tricky circuit because there's a lack of grip. As a driver you have to have a lot of confidence on this twisty little road."

On rumours of Alonso to Mercedes: "We all have sadomasochistic tendencies, but mine do not go that far."

Ouch!

1:20PM

Who will end the weekend on the podium?

It's hard to know who will manage to get through this weekend unscathed. Baku is such a narrow track and although only four cars retired last year, it feels like it may be more than that this time. 

I tried to predict who the top three will be, here. 

1:16PM

How they stand ahead of Baku

1:12PM

The story so far...

It's been a dramatic weekend so far. 

We saw Sergio Perez and Jolyon Palmer crashing at Turn 8 yesterday, which has led to the kerb being filed down. Palmer then saw his car burst into flames this morning, which means he is unlikely to make it out this afternoon. 

Sebastian Vettel has had a hydraulic issue that saw him complete just seven laps this morning, and Max Verstappen's car is in bits after he limped off towards the end of the practice session. 

And the McLaren's have a total of 70 - yes, seventy zero - grid place penalties. Fernando Alonso has 40 and Stoffel Vandoorne, 30.  Carlos Sainz will also drop back three places for causing the accident that took out Felipe Massa and nearly took out Romain Grosjean in Canada. 

1:03PM

Good afternoon

Hello Formula One fans. The cars are in beautiful Baku this weekend for the eighth race of the season. Qualifying will start at 2:00pm BST.

1:01PM

Lewis Hamilton third in final Baku practice as Sebastian Vettel has mechanical woes

Lewis Hamilton finished final practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in third as his championship rival Sebastian Vettel was struck down by a mechanical issue.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas topped the order at the Baku City Circuit after he edged out Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen by just 0.095 seconds with Hamilton, only 10th in practice on Friday, four tenths further back.

But for Vettel, who heads Hamilton in the title race by 12 points heading into the eighth round of the season, his morning was plagued by a technical problem.

The four-time champion was hauled back into the Ferrari garage with just half of the one-session completed, and he did not re-emerge.

Vettel's issue is yet to be diagnosed by the Italian team, but it will come as a hefty blow to the championship leader ahead of qualifying later on Saturday.

Vettel was not the only front runner to hit trouble with Red Bull's Max Verstappen, fastest in both practice sessions here on Friday, parking his Red Bull with 10 minutes remaining.

"There's something wrong with the engine," the teenager said before coming to an abrupt halt.

Jolyon Palmer is a man under pressure this weekend following his pointless start to the new season, and the Englishman suffered an engine failure in the opening moments of Saturday's morning running.

Palmer's Renault engine momentarily caught alight before the track marshals put the blaze out.

Fernando Alonso will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid following a series of changes to his Honda engine.

He will serve a mammoth 40-place grid drop, while his McLaren team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne has been penalised by 30 places following a raft of new parts on his engine, too. Alonso finished 14th on Saturday morning.

Elsewhere, Daniel Ricciardo was fourth for Red Bull ahead of Force India's Esteban Ocon with Verstappen in sixth.