The Azerbaijan GP surprise causing major qualifying headache

The streets of Baku have introduced a new challenge for Formula 1 teams this weekend.

Azerbaijan's capital is known for its unpredictable races, but this time the focus is on Pirelli's tyre selection. It has brought the C4, C5, and C6 compounds, leaving teams to rethink their qualifying and race strategies.

The super-soft C6 tyre is causing teams the most trouble. Throughout the season, it has taken several laps to perform well and is often slower than the more reliable C5 medium. 

This was first noticed this year in Imola and Monaco, where the mediums outpaced the softs. Aston Martin benefited by avoiding the C6 completely in Imola, getting both cars to Q3.

During free practice in Baku, teams showed caution. Most drivers, including Max Verstappen, used the C6 extensively. However, this was not about finding one lap performance. 

It was about preserving tyres for the rest of the weekend since the C6's race day potential is questionable. The medium compound was competitive and showed its worth during first and second practice.

Lewis Hamilton's session-topping time on the softs in FP2 was almost matched by Charles Leclerc on the mediums.

Ferrari and Red Bull were the only top teams to gather significant data on the two softest compounds, as Yuki Tsunoda also drove on the mediums. McLaren was unable to gather as much data as its rivals, due to both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both finding the wall.

It is creating a strategic headache for the teams, with Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase having outlinined the necessary analysis Red Bull must undertake before qualifying.

"In view of qualifying and the race, there is an unusual tyre selection on the grid," said Lambiase. "So we have some analysis to do to get the programme right for qualifying, while also making sure we have our long-term plan for the race under control."

Most teams expect a simple one-stop strategy from the mediums to the hards. But with the medium expected to make an appearance in qualifying, it could become a battle over who has the best C5 tyres remaining for the grand prix.