Hamilton leads Ferrari 1-2 in Azerbaijan GP practice session

Lewis Hamilton topped the times ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc and former partner George Russell of Mercedes in Friday’s crash-hit second free practice session for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

As the title-chasing McLaren duo series leader Oscar Piastri and closest rival Lando Norris experienced a difficult afternoon of scrapes and suspension failures, the seven-time champion demonstrated why he had felt optimistic on Thursday.

He finished the session with a best lap in 1 minute 41.293 seconds to edge 0.074sec ahead of Baku maestro Leclerc, who is chasing a fifth consecutive pole on the intimidating street track.

Russell was third, almost half a second adrift, ahead of his team-mate Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman of Haas and four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.

Liam Lawson was seventh for Racing Bulls ahead of Esteban Ocon in the second Haas, Williams’ Alex Albon and Norris who suffered an awkward afternoon along with teammate Piastri.

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain talks to the media in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Thursday. AP

Norris, who is 31 points behind Piastri in the championship, began the day well enough clocking the best time in the morning session as the pair posted an impressive 1-2.

But it went pear-shaped when the Briton crashed in the second session, smacking the wall at Turn Four. He damaged his car’s suspension and left rear wheel and limped back to the pits, missing most of the action.

“Yeh, it was a costly one, especially here,” said Norris. “It was feeling good until then, but I’d rather have this and push and find the limits, than not find the limits at all.

“But, yeah, it’s annoying. I’d have liked to get some high fuel laps in, especially on these tyres - the softer compound compared to last year - but it is what it is and I’ll have to make up for it tomorrow.”

Piastri then brushed the wall at Turn 15, returning to the pits for a check-up.

He was released to continue but caused another scare in the McLaren garage when he locked up at Turn Two with 20 minutes remaining, a signal not only that he was pushing hard in his long run laps, but also that Baku bites any indiscretion.

In the end, Piastri could only clock the twelfth fastest time, two places below Norris.

McLaren will need a significant improvement over the weekend if they are to clinch a second consecutive constructors’ championship this weekend with seven races remaining.

“A bit tricky, yeah,” said the 24-year-old Piastri, seeking to become Australia’s third champion and first since Alan Jones in 1980.

“Just a bit up and down. I think the pace is there, it’s just not the easiest to get the most out of it at the moment so that’s probably just the main thing.

“I think there’s still a lot of positives from today — just a few tricky moments.”

Norris added that his loss of track time might leave him in arrears on the extra soft tyres.

“The track is very different to last year,” he said.

“It’s quite a lot quicker. So, I’m behind on the learnings now, but it was a scrappy session from both my side and Oscar’s.”

For Hamilton, who hit the wall at Turn Five during the morning session damaging his front wing and picking up a puncture, it was confirmation of his progress since the summer break.

Agence France-Presse