Vettel beats Hamilton to pole hat-trick in Baku

Ferrari’s Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel completed a pole position hat-trick on Saturday by beating title rival Lewis Hamilton to the top slot at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The German, nine points ahead of Mercedes’s reigning champion, will be hoping to convert his third pole in a row into a third victory in four races on Sunday.

Vettel pulled out a fastest lap of one minute 41.498 seconds, compared to the Briton’s 1:41.677, on the quick street circuit along the shores of the Caspian Sea and around the walled old town.

Hamilton’s Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas was third with Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winner of a chaotic race in Baku last year and in China two weekends ago, qualifying fourth for Red Bull on an overcast and gusty evening.

“I think it will be an intense race. Anything can happen here and safety cars are very likely,” said Vettel, who had struggled to break into the top 10 on Friday but led Saturday’s final session.

“The good point is that our car was really good this afternoon so it should be in a good place tomorrow,” added the four-time world champion after his 53rd career pole.

“Yesterday I struggled a bit with confidence, with trust in the car and rhythm but today, when it clicks, it just keeps coming and it was really enjoyable.”

Hamilton, also a four-time champion but yet to win a race this season, lost time in the final sector and said it had been hard to keep the car straight in the crosswinds.

Second on the grid was still his best start position since pole in the Australian season-opener, with Ferrari sweeping the front row at the last two.

“That was close. We did the best job we could,” said Hamilton.

“They were the quickest all weekend and they’ve obviously got a phenomenal car this year. But I’m really happy with the job the team did to get us from where we were yesterday to where we are today,” said Hamilton.

“We’re in the mix. I will try to give Sebastian a hard time UPNPSSPX u