Esteban Ocon frustrated as yellow-flag disruption ends Haas’ Q3 hopes in Baku
Image accompanying the official F1 announcement.Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman left the Baku City Circuit with mixed emotions following a tight Qualifying session in which both men were aiming for Q3 but fell short. The two were competing for places through Q2, and while the weekend showed improved pace compared with earlier stretches of the season, neither was able to secure progression into the top 10 shootout.
Ocon’s disappointment was sharper after he said his final Q2 lap was compromised when a yellow flag came out. He had been encouraged by his performance earlier in the weekend, progressing from Q1 with a P10, after turning in P12 in Friday’s FP3. However, he was ultimately classified P14 in Qualifying, telling Formula1.com that the circumstances prevented him from completing what he felt was “on for a Q3 lap.”
Ocon attributed the loss to the disruption around his lap, adding that he was forced to back off on the exit to avoid a penalty. He also said he repeated the same lap time as before but still dropped enough time due to the yellow flag moment, concluding: “Unbelievable. I just have no words.”
Bearman, meanwhile, ended Qualifying in P11. Formula1.com reports that he was in the top 10 when he completed his final run earlier than most, but other drivers running later displaced him, and he said he “caught the yellow flag on my final lap.” Despite missing out on Q3, he pointed to positives in the car’s form and suggested opportunities remained for the race.
The session results mean Haas will go into the next phase of the weekend with Ocon starting from P14 and Bearman from P11, following Qualifying at Baku.
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Reporting source: F1 official update