Hamilton tops Baku FP2 after dual McLaren wall-brushes

Azerbaijan Grand Prix FP2 Report: Hamilton Tops Timesheet Amid Challenges

Baku, Azerbaijan – Lewis Hamilton emerged at the forefront of the second practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clocking a time of 1:41.293. He edged out Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished just 0.074 seconds behind, securing a Ferrari one-two at Baku City Circuit.

The session was marred by incidents involving both McLaren drivers. Lando Norris was the first to encounter trouble, crashing into the barriers at Turn 4 due to a snap of oversteer. The damage forced him to return to the pits, where extensive repairs prevented further participation, limiting him to just seven laps without a long-run simulation. Title leader Oscar Piastri also faced difficulties, damaging his right-side tires after overcooking Turn 15 and later locking up at Turn 2, leaving him without a competitive time.

Ferrari’s dominance was unchallenged as Hamilton’s fastest lap came on used soft tires after his second flying attempt. Following the duo were Mercedes teammates George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who finished sixth and seventh, respectively, almost half a second off Hamilton’s pace. Russell nearly secured a quicker time but lost control at Turn 12 after a promising first sector.

Haas driver Oliver Bearman impressed with a fifth-place finish, showing strong pace despite ongoing brake issues. Max Verstappen, who clocked 0.609 seconds slower than Hamilton, settled for sixth, while Liam Lawson completed the top seven for Racing Bulls, just 0.087 seconds adrift.

Team performance was mixed, with Esteban Ocon in eighth for Haas and Alex Albon of Williams finishing ninth, narrowly ahead of the benched Norris. Carlos Sainz and Piastri rounded out the top eleven, the latter salvaging his session despite earlier mistakes.

As the session concluded, challenges persisted with multiple drivers struggling to maintain grip, setting the stage for an intriguing qualifying session ahead.