Hamilton led a Ferrari one-two in FP2 after Norris topped FP1. McLaren hit the walls, Mercedes looked solid, and Haas impressed in Baku.
Ferrari and McLaren split the day in Baku. Lando Norris lit up the morning for McLaren. The afternoon swung red as Lewis Hamilton headed Charles Leclerc. McLaren’s pace faded, and the walls took a toll.
FP1: Norris sets the benchmark
Franco Colapinto opened the session on a green track, Nico Hülkenberg close behind. Gabriel Bortoleto ran long, Alex Albon lost a mirror, and George Russell reported a burning smell but kept going.
Norris had a hiccup too. He pitted to remove a pitot-tube cover. Back out, he set 1:44.274 on softs. Verstappen and Leclerc traded laps in the low 1:44s. Oscar Piastri parked on his out-lap with a suspected power unit issue.
Red flag interruption
Debris at Turn 16. Not carbon, but kerb material lifting. Running stopped for more than 25 minutes while repairs were made. Alan Permane confirmed the kerb problem on broadcast. When the session resumed, the pit exit jammed. McLaren said Piastri’s issue was fixed and sent him back out.
Hamilton clips the wall
Lewis Hamilton brushed the barrier at Turn 5. Front wing damage and a puncture on the front-left. He limped back and lost time.
Verstappen unsettled
Max Verstappen missed the Turn 1 apex and took the escape road. Later, a lock-up at Turn 15 forced him wide again. He reported the car coming off the ground under braking. Seventh at the flag.
Norris stretches clear
Norris found rhythm. First a 1:43.747, then a 1:42.704. No one else broke 1:43. Piastri rejoined late, clipped the wall at Turn 15 with the right-rear, and still climbed to second. Leclerc kept Ferrari close in third.
FP1 classification
Albon’s fifth underlined Williams’ form. Tsunoda beat Verstappen on identical tyres. Lawson and Hadjar logged both Racing Bulls in the top ten. Antonelli sat just outside in 11th a clean Friday from him needed after Monza, a thousandth ahead of Hülkenberg. Hamilton’s damaged Ferrari was only 13th, level with Bortoleto. Alpine closed the order with Colapinto and Gasly.
The Day Flips
The morning pointed to McLaren control once more. Norris flying, Piastri recovering, Ferrari close.
The afternoon flipped it. Ferrari found lap time. McLaren made mistakes. The day’s story changed.
FP2: Hamilton leads Ferrari one-two
Early running
Kick Sauber were first out on mediums. Hülkenberg opened with 1:44.218.
Piastri, eager to bank laps, jumped to 1:43.307 on softs. Verstappen posted 1:43.226. Russell then improved, and Bortoleto briefly stunned with 1:42.561. Leclerc moved the target to 1:42.207, only for Norris to edge it with 1:42.199.
Ferrari step up
A tow pulled Leclerc into the 1:41s with 1:41.786. Hamilton looked sharp on mediums, answering with 1:41.543. Teams then reset for their final soft runs.
McLaren in the walls
Norris then lost the rear at Turn 4. Left-rear into the wall. He limped back with suspension damage and parked it.
Minutes later Piastri clipped the Tecpro at Turn 15. After checks he rejoined, but the run plan was broken. He finished 12th and faces a post-session yellow-flag review.
Verstappen searching
Flashes of speed, but no flow. Verstappen hovered near the front early, then slipped back as rivals found time. Sixth at the flag, still complaining of balance however it would be wrong to count out Red Bull on a Friday.
Ferrari seal it
Leclerc reset P1 with 1:41.367. Hamilton, with a tow from his team-mate, delivered 1:41.293 on softs. Fastest of the day. Ferrari sealed the one-two.
FP2 classification
Mercedes stacked both cars in the top four, Antonelli backing Russell. Bearman’s fifth gave Haas a lift. Ocon’s eighth added to a strong day for Haas . Albon kept Williams in the contention with P9.
McLaren’s swing was stark. One-two in FP1. Tenth and twelfth in FP2. Alpine closed the order again, struggling for positives with another underwhelming show.
Friday themes
- McLaren ruled FP1, Ferrari owned FP2
- Norris fastest in the morning, in the wall by afternoon
- Hamilton and Leclerc locked a Ferrari one-two
- Mercedes steady with Russell and Antonelli
- Haas sharp with Bearman fifth, Ocon eighth
- Verstappen chasing balance, only sixth in FP2
Coffee Corner Take
Two sessions. Two leaders. Norris had the sparkle early, but Ferrari carried the hammer late. Hamilton looked composed, Leclerc sharp, the pair dictating the pace when it mattered.
McLaren’s Friday tells the tale of Baku. Speed in the morning, scars by evening. Mercedes are quietly in the frame. Haas have a live race car. Red Bull still feel stiff over bumps and Williams could be a surprise around here.
Next Stop
Final practice tomorrow sets the tone, then qualifying decides the grid. Ferrari hold momentum. McLaren need a reset. Red Bull need a window they can trust, whilst the midfield remains as close as ever.
More on the Azerbaijan GP:
Want more Formula 1 coverage?
Dive into race reports, driver market news, and technical analysis in the Coffee Corner Motorsport F1 Hub.
Share the story. Grow the community.