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After securing pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, George Russell identified Max Verstappen as the primary threat to his race, but not without a playful jab at his Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli's remarkable comeback at Monza.
A similar scenario could unfold, as Antonelli crashed into the wall during his second flying lap in Q1. The incident damaged his front suspension, steering, and the front-left wheel and tire. He attempted to return to the pits, but his race engineer, Peter Bonnington, instructed him to stop the car.
Antonelli had already posted a fast enough lap to advance to Q2, but was unable to participate in the session and was initially classified 16th on the starting grid. Verstappen topped Friday's third free practice, but was hampered by an internal combustion engine issue during qualifying, which in turn affected his electrical power. This left him in eighth place overall.
"I think Verstappen will be a threat, and obviously, we can't count Kimi out," Russell stated.
"You know, he started 19th at Monza, and now he's 16th. So, yeah, this time he should be leading a few laps earlier..."
McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were fastest in their initial Q3 attempts. However, neither could match Russell's pace, who improved his time on his final two laps despite using the same set of soft tires, while his rivals opted for new ones. Norris locked up and missed Turn 3 on his last attempt, briefly causing a yellow flag, but Verstappen's lap was already compromised by his engine issues.
This left Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in second place, albeit a significant 0.837 seconds behind Russell. Verstappen's Red Bull teammate, Isack Hadjar, returning from injury, qualified fourth, though he wasn't on Russell's radar.
"Looking at yesterday's practice, I think Verstappen was the biggest threat," Russell commented.
"But we don't really know. McLaren also delivered a big surprise at the start of Q3."
Russell currently trails his teammate by 81 points in the drivers' championship and desperately needs a season reset after recent disappointments – especially at Monza, where Antonelli snatched victory from him after starting 19th. Asked if this weekend presented an opportunity for him to get back into contention and if Antonelli might be showing signs of pressure, Russell sought to manage expectations.
"I don't recall many mistakes he's made this season," he said.
"When you look at any championship campaign, even with the winners, there are mistakes along the way."
"I continue to believe and fight until it's no longer possible. But I don't feel any pressure. I feel excitement every time I get in the car, simply because I feel more confident in myself."
"When that confidence starts to build, it's like an upward cycle. Conversely, when you're at a disadvantage, you start to lose that confidence, and then you start pushing the limits more."
"And that's when mistakes happen. But he's been flawless this season. This is his first mistake in a qualifying session all year."
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