Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Final Practice Report
Lando Norris outpaced the competition in a closely contested final practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clocking the fastest lap time of 1:41.223. This performance marks a significant turnaround after a challenging Friday, as Norris capitalized on improved track conditions following morning rain.
Despite early concerns about the Pirelli soft C6 compound’s durability—which was deemed vulnerable to degradation—drivers quickly adapted as grip levels increased throughout the hour. Control of the session oscillated between McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull Racing as competitors executed multiple runs on their soft tires.
Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, finished second, 0.222 seconds off Norris’s best time. Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three, albeit with a more tumultuous session that saw him struggle in his first two attempts before improving on his final lap. Notably, his best lap was still 0.254 seconds shy of his teammate Norris.
Lewis Hamilton, who led the timings on Friday, claimed fourth position, finishing just 0.022 seconds behind Norris. The Mercedes drivers, including Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, were further back, lagging 0.653 and 0.741 seconds respectively.
In the midfield, Alex Albon led with a seventh-place finish—0.760 seconds off the pace—followed by Haas’s Oliver Bearman and Liam Lawson from Red Bull, who executed a dramatic 360-degree spin at Turn 16.
Charles Leclerc completed the top ten, finishing 0.986 seconds off the leader, and narrowly avoided disaster when he brushed the wall at Turn 7. He was later cleared of any significant damage.
Key Results:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:41.223
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.222s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.254s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.022s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.653s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.741s
- Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.760s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +0.865s
- Liam Lawson (Red Bull) – +0.879s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.986s
This practice sets the stage for an exciting qualifying round and race, with teams working to fine-tune their setups in the challenging Baku street circuit conditions.
