Turn 7, the lead-in to the Castle section, is tight and feeds into a short straight. Alex Sun entered wide, then cut sharply toward the apex. A light squeeze of throttle on exit kept traction stable, the speed holding at 180 km/h as he charged toward the next corner.
Ahead lay Baku's most infamous Turn 8—known among fans as the "Stupid Corner."
The track narrows to just a few meters, Armco barriers pressing in from both sides. It is the most unforgiving bend in the Castle section.
Built along the contours of the old city walls, the surface is uneven and the barriers sit almost flush with the racing line. The slightest mistake means the wall—and retirement.
Alex Sun didn't allow his focus to waver. His gaze pierced through the corner, locking onto the exit. At the end of the short straight, he braked decisively, easing off the pedal progressively as he turned in—classic trail braking. It prevented lock-up while allowing precise speed control. In seconds, he scrubbed speed from 180 km/h down to 135 km/h, downshifting into second as he hugged the apex. Every movement was deliberate, never reckless.
He traced the classic outside–inside–outside line, maintaining trail braking deep into the corner. At the apex, he fully released the brakes, fed in a gentle throttle input to steady the chassis, and absorbed the surface undulations without a hint of instability.
The inner curb brushed the tyres with only a faint vibration. A subtle correction of the wrist kept the car perfectly balanced, leaving no room for error in this deadly corner. He emerged cleanly, the car still fully composed.
Croft's voice rang out at just the right moment.
"Smart choice! This corner earned its nickname back in Q2 of the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when Charles Leclerc locked up and crashed out here. Over team radio he kept saying, 'I am stupid,' and the fans ran with it. It became a classic F1 meme.
Alex Sun avoids the same trap with precise trail braking and impeccable line choice. His car control is absolutely top-tier!"
Clearing Turn 8, the Castle section's challenges continued.
Turn 9 follows immediately, tighter and slightly uphill. Without waiting for the speed to fully recover, Alex Sun applied a short burst of trail braking to fine-tune the car's balance.
A light brush of the brakes trimmed 10 km/h. As he turned in, he gradually released pressure, tucking the car close to the inside barrier. At the apex, he came fully off the brakes, straightened the wheel, and used the curb to help accelerate out. The entire sequence flowed seamlessly.
Turns 10 to 12 form a compact S-section, the track narrowing to less than eight meters. The wheels passed barely half a palm's width from the barriers, and Turn 11 crests blind on an uphill entry.
Alex Sun anticipated every line in advance, threading through the bumps with delicate throttle control, never wasting an ounce of power.
Each steering input was measured to the millimeter. Subtle trail braking at the transitions kept the rhythm intact—close enough to the barriers to maximize speed, yet never touching them. He turned the inherent danger of the Castle section into a genuine lap-time advantage.
Exiting the old town, the circuit opened up through the latter part of Sector 2. Turns 13 and 14, a fast double-apex sequence, were taken flat out. Carrying momentum cleanly, he accelerated all the way to 283 km/h, the car surging forward with authority.
Mark's voice came through the TR, filled with approval yet edged with caution.
"Just Turn 15 left—stay sharp! Your exit speed there sets up Sector 3. Keep this rhythm!"
The tension in Mark's chest finally eased. He couldn't help but think back to the doubts in Q1, silently glad he had trusted Alex Sun's call.
Alex Sun gave a small nod. Turn 15 was a 90-degree left-hander, the critical final corner of Sector 2. He approached at 283 km/h from the preceding high-speed stretch.
He hit the brakes hard, turning in while maintaining controlled pressure. The track here slopes downhill, grip decreasing as the gradient steepens.
He immediately committed to trail braking, holding brake pressure into the apex to keep the front end planted. The car clipped the apex precisely, and on exit he fed in throttle smoothly, using the downhill momentum to carry speed. The car dropped down the slope at 210 km/h, crossing the Sector 2 timing line cleanly.
That downhill momentum fed directly into Turn 16—the opening corner of Sector 3 and one of the lap's decisive points. The barriers sit tight against the edge of the track, leaving almost no margin for error. The quality of the exit here determines everything that follows.
Carrying the downhill energy from Turn 15, Alex Sun braked hard from 90 meters out, downshifting as he rotated the car. With precise trail braking, he controlled the speed into the corner, keeping his right tyre skimming the inside white line while the left rode the absolute limit of the racing line. He slowed cleanly to 120 km/h and cut toward the apex.
On entry, the left wheel climbed the inner curb. He used its rebound to stabilize the chassis, then let the car drift naturally toward the outer curb. The instant the steering straightened, he went full throttle. Power surged, and the car rocketed forward along the racing line toward the high-speed sequence ahead.
Turns 17 to 20 are flat-out sweepers. No additional braking required. Alex Sun held the steering wheel steady, making only minimal corrections as he accelerated relentlessly.
Exiting Turn 19, he positioned himself precisely 1.5 seconds behind Piastri—a perfect gap. Close enough to fully exploit the Slipstream, far enough to avoid turbulent air. The car was visibly pulled forward by the tow.
He crossed the DRS detection point at Turn 20 and, the moment he hit the activation line, pressed the button. The rear wing flattened, drag dropping sharply.
With Slipstream and DRS combined, the car surged past 310 km/h. On the long straight after Turn 20, the gap to Piastri shrank visibly. He charged toward the finish line with unstoppable momentum.
Croft's voice soared.
"Sector 3 is underway! That Turn 16 from Alex Sun was outrageous! Right on the limit of the track, carrying record-breaking speed—he's setting purple sectors and going all out for P1 in Q2! The precision is unbelievable!"
The engine's roar tore through the Baku skyline as Alex Sun crossed the line.
The timing screen flickered wildly—then froze.
1:53.987.
The live chat exploded, anxiety instantly turning into euphoria.
"1:53.987! He broke it! New F2 qualifying lap record! …"
"Speed and control maxed out! Is this the level of that driver?!"
"A record untouched for years—gone! Alex Sun is ruling Baku!"
Croft practically shouted over the noise.
"My word! 1:53.987! The qualifying record is broken!
Since Baku joined the F2 calendar in 2017, the qualifying lap record has hovered in the 1:54 range. Charles Leclerc's 2017 pole lap of 1:54.480 stood for nine race weekends—even accounting for the pandemic gap! Drivers like Albon and Matsushita tried and failed.
Now, Alex Sun of Prema Racing follows in Leclerc's footsteps, delivering a flawless flying lap to push qualifying into the 1:53 bracket for the first time ever!
He's rewritten this circuit's qualifying history! Remember, Leclerc's race fastest lap of 1:53.635 still stands as the ultimate benchmark—but in qualifying, Alex Sun has broken through!"
Alex Sun eased off the throttle, the RPM dropping as the vibrations faded from his fingertips. The intense focus that had sharpened his features softened into the quiet satisfaction of a record breaker.
He freed his left hand and punched the air, crisp and decisive. His right hand kept the steering wheel steady. Under the floodlights, his profile was sharp, his eyes blazing with exhilaration and certainty. A defiant smile tugged at his lips.
Into the radio, his voice carried excitement without arrogance.
"1:53.987! New record! That Q1 scare was nothing—this is our real pace. Thanks, Piastri, perfect Slipstream. And thanks to the team—strategy was spot on!"
The TR erupted in cheers. Mark's voice burst through, barely containing his excitement.
"Brilliant, Alex Sun! That's it! You've taken 0.493 seconds off Leclerc's record and broken into the 1:53s! Prema's legacy continues with you—go attack Q3!"
Team Principal René Rosin's deep voice followed, thick with pride.
"You absolute star! That was incredible driving—we're proud of you!"
Piastri remained calm, but the respect was clear.
"Congrats. You used the Slipstream perfectly. Rhythm was spot on. Let's keep working together in Q3—steady and clean."
Cheers echoed across the TR channel. The tension from Q1 dissolved into the exhilaration of rewriting the record books.
This lap was more than speed—it was control, precision, and a direct answer to his narrow escape in Q1.
With 1:53.987, Alex Sun secured P1 in Q2 by a clear margin and reset the qualifying benchmark. He became the second Prema driver, after Leclerc, to carve his name into Baku's history.
He lowered his left hand back onto the steering wheel, the fire in his eyes burning even brighter. Rebecca Lin's promise of a mysterious reward flickered through his mind, deepening his smile.
He pressed the radio again.
"Thanks, everyone. Let's push in Q3 and take the win!"
He guided the car steadily into the Pit lane, the aftershock of that fist pump still lingering in his arm—a record breaker's purest expression of joy.
As soon as the car rolled into the Pit lane, the Prema mechanics surrounded it, guiding it precisely into position.
Alex Sun unbuckled and removed his helmet. Sweat dampened his hair, but his eyes shone brighter than ever.
As he climbed out, Rebecca Lin hurried forward, pressing a towel into his hands, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Alex! That was incredible! You broke the record! You really did it!"
He wiped his forehead and gave her a small nod, a faint smile in his eyes.
"The mystery reward still stands," she added softly. "After qualifying."
Mark strode over and clapped him firmly on the shoulder.
"Our ace. Catch your breath. The mechanics will handle the car. Just carry this form into Q3."
The crew worked briskly, checking brakes, tyre pressure, and engine data, keeping the tyres warm and preparing for the remaining minutes of Q2 and the demands of Q3.
Alex Sun accepted a bottle of water, taking a few steady gulps. His gaze drifted back toward the track as he reviewed the lap in his mind—every braking point, every apex—already preparing for the final push.