The stewards of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix are investigating Lewis Hamilton for driving unnecessarily gradual throughout qualifying, however he insists he isn’t involved. Mercedes’ Hamilton appeared to lag McLaren’s Lando Norris, whose team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was proper behind, and is being investigated for going too gradual in opposition to a goal time.

Norris was instructed on the radio on the finish of Q2: “Do not let him play nonsense. He is bought to look at his delta, if he does not he is in bother.” It is the lead automotive, it can get into bother.”

Advised he wanted to hurry up, Hamilton instructed the Mercedes pit wall: “Typically I do not know what to anticipate.” The FIA ​​later confirmed that the Briton can be investigated as soon as he completed qualifying.

However the seven-time world champion, who completed P7 in qualifying however could possibly be relegated decrease if penalized, instructed Sky Sports activities F1 after the session: “I do not actually have any worries. First I used to be out of line and it’s a must to be inside a delta time and I used to be inside my delta time.

FULL QUALIFYING RESULTS: Leclerc on pole forward of Pérez and Verstappen

“I wasn’t beneath that lap tempo, so throughout the delta time I ought to be capable of drive on the velocity I need. And I used to be out of line, so I wasn’t holding everybody again. I used to be making an attempt to get a tow as a result of we’re so gradual. on the straight traces. The blokes behind did not wish to move, so I simply went out and did my lap.”

Staff principal Toto Wolff stated: “I am unable to get forward of what the stewards will say. I feel it was inside delta time. What meaning, how the stewards will assess it, I do not know.”

Hamilton added of Mercedes’ lack of tempo: “I am not stunned [we were over a second off pole]. It was the identical in Monaco. It is the identical.” Nevertheless, she added, “There’s lots to stay up for. It’s a difficult and chaotic race, many issues can occur. We’re within the prime 10.

“It was a extremely troublesome qualifying session as a result of we’re always pushing, we have now a really, very small window with the automotive. All the things we strive does not give us what we would like. We’re making loads of modifications, however we all the time get there. he comes out with the identical conclusion that he normally bounces off, inflicting us to lose loads of efficiency.

“After which all of the efficiency is whenever you put the automotive down. We simply say, ‘We’ll take a beating within the again and neck and decrease the automotive so far as potential for efficiency.’ I went down extra and it is bouncing just a little greater than the opposite automotive.

“However we’re nonetheless there, we’re very gradual on the straights. It is likely to be a battle tomorrow within the race, however we’re going to give it our all and hopefully perhaps we could have higher race tempo, who is aware of.” .”

Charles Leclerc secured pole place in Baku and can lead the grid for the fourth consecutive race. Nevertheless, the Monaco driver has not gained any of the final three races. Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen begin second and third within the Purple Bulls with Carlos Sainz’s different Ferrari fourth.