F1 Paddock Notebook - Azerbaijan GP Saturday

Recapping some added news and notes from Baku after F1 qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Crash.net F1 Editor Luke Smith brings you his paddock notebook.

- Sebastian Vettel scored the 53rd pole position of his F1 career today, now putting him just 12 off Ayrton Senna for fourth place in the all-time record books. It was also the first time he has scored three consecutive poles since his run from Italy to Korea back in 2013.

- Vettel's fastest time was set on his first flying lap in Q3, with a mistake in the first sector on his final run preventing him from improving.

- One of the biggest talking points in qualifying was the near-miss between Toro Rosso teammates Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly in Q1. Hartley and Gasly spoke after the session with team boss Franz Tost, with Hartley apologising, but both the team and Gasly acknowledged there was little more he could have done to prevent the incident.

- Much as in practice, a number of drivers reported massive swings in the wind speed and direction, with Carlos Sainz Jr. saying it was hard to truly explain just how big an impact it has. Even windier conditions are expected for the race on Sunday.

- A one-stop race is set to be the quickest way to the chequered flag on Sunday for both the Supersoft and Ultrasoft starters. A second stop is thought to leave drivers around 17 seconds back on the road.

- Romain Grosjean is set to get a new gearbox for the race after his issue in qualifying. Given he was due to start P20 anyway, the Haas driver's grid position will not be changed.

- Grosjean and Brendon Hartley both technically failed to qualify, but were naturally given dispensation by the stewards to enter the race.