Azerbaijan Grand Prix Practice: Hamilton and Ferrari Show Promise Amid McLaren Struggles

The opening day of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix featured two practice sessions that highlighted contrasting fortunes for the leading teams. Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari topped the second practice session, clocking a time of 1m 41.293s, narrowly edging out teammate Charles Leclerc by 0.074 seconds. In contrast, McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced difficulties, both hitting the barriers and finishing 10th and 12th, respectively.

2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix FP2 report and highlights:

In Free Practice 1 (FP1), Lando Norris led the session with a time of 1m 42.704s, followed by teammate Oscar Piastri. However, the session was marred by a red flag due to a kerb issue, limiting track time for many drivers. Hamilton struggled initially, finishing 13th after damaging his front wing. In FP2, Hamilton rebounded impressively, while Norris's crash at Turn 4 and Piastri's wall contact at Turn 15 hindered their performance.

Everything that happened in messy first Baku F1 practice

Hamilton expressed optimism following his strong performance in FP2, stating, "It really has been a positive day, thank the lord. I had some problems with the brakes in FP1, but we made some changes going into FP2, and the brakes finally were working perfectly." He acknowledged the support from his team and the energy from fans, emphasizing the progress being made at Ferrari.

Hamilton hails Friday turnaround in Baku after Ferrari brake fix

Leclerc, while pleased with the team's performance, cautioned about McLaren's potential, saying, "It looks like McLaren is in another world, literally. I doubt we will be in the fight with them, but compared to the others, we seem to be kind of in a good place."

Leclerc insists McLaren are far ahead despite Ferrari’s strong practice pace

Despite Ferrari's promising results, both McLaren drivers faced criticism for their performance. Norris admitted his crash was "a costly one," while Piastri described the day as "a bit tricky," indicating that they struggled to find optimal grip. Leclerc's comments suggest that while Ferrari is competitive, McLaren remains the team to beat.

RFI (Radio France Internationale)

As the teams prepare for qualifying, the focus will be on how McLaren can recover from their practice setbacks. Hamilton and Leclerc will aim to capitalize on their momentum, while Norris and Piastri will need to regroup to challenge for pole position. The next session, FP3, is scheduled for Saturday, followed by qualifying later in the day.

Hamilton Sees Positive Progress after Azerbaijan GP Practice Sessions

The first day of practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix showcased a significant turnaround for Hamilton and Ferrari, while McLaren's struggles raised questions about their pace. As the weekend progresses, the competitive landscape remains dynamic, with potential for surprises in qualifying and the race ahead.

Hamilton: Ferrari heading in the right direction after Baku practice