Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver in the first practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The session, held at the Baku City Circuit, was interrupted by a lengthy red flag delay.
After a two-week break, F1 drivers hit the track under cloudy yet dry conditions at 12:30 local time. There was an immediate rush to set fast lap times as drivers aimed to get into the rhythm of the tricky Baku circuit.
McLaren’s Early Challenges in Practice
Both McLaren drivers had a few hiccups in the opening stages of the session. Norris was told to return to the pits to “remove something,” which turned out to be a component cover. Meanwhile, Piastri received a message to “back off” and “avoid full load” during his stint.
Elsewhere, the track conditions proved difficult for several drivers. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto went off at Turn 3, running into the run-off zone. Alex Albon also lost a mirror from his Williams, and George Russell reported a “burning” smell emanating from his car, adding to the session’s drama.
Red Flag Disrupts Session But Norris Retains Control
Around a quarter into the session, a red flag was brought out due to an incident at Turn 16. Replays showed that Carlos Sainz from Williams had run over the kerb, leaving part of it loose. Lando Norris had been leading with a 1m 43.747s on Pirelli’s soft tyres just before the red flag. He was comfortably ahead of Russell, Leclerc, and Max Verstappen.
Following a brief delay for repairs, the session resumed with about 20 minutes remaining. Norris maintained his lead, posting a 1m 42.704s to extend his advantage by over one second. Piastri, after resolving a power unit issue, slotted into second, while Leclerc – aiming for his fifth consecutive Baku pole – was third, half a second off Norris’ pace.
Russell finished in fourth for Mercedes, with Albon closely following in fifth. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda completed the top six. Verstappen, the four-time world champion, abandoned a lap at Turn 15 after losing control of his car.
Sainz, Lawson, and Antonelli Round Out the Top 10
Carlos Sainz was another standout, placing his Williams inside the top 10, while Racing Bulls rookies Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar also showed solid pace. Kimi Antonelli rounded out the top 10 for Mercedes.
The session saw a mix of highs and lows for several teams, with drivers testing the limits of the Baku circuit. As the teams now analyze their data, they will look to make improvements before the second practice session, which will take place at 1600 local time.
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