FP1 at the Baku GP was a complicated one: a kerb issue exiting Turn 15 interrupted the session for twenty-five minutes. Track activity was very patchy, but it still allowed the drivers to get some running. Piastri completed a few laps less, struggling with minor power unit issues. Meanwhile, the other McLaren of Lando Norris was flying, taking the lead. Behind the papayas were Leclerc and Russell. The Red Bulls were further back, while Lewis Hamilton ended the session early with a puncture.
FP1 begins at the Baku GP: problems for the two McLarens
At 10:30 Italian time, the green light goes off to begin FP1 of the Baku GP. The sky is slightly cloudy, while the track is clearing. Franco Colapinto's Alpine and the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg. The Argentine, however, returns to the pits after just one lap. The other Sauber, that of Franco Colapinto who takes the escape route at turn 3. A little misfortune also for Lando Norris. After a lap, his mechanics realized they had left the cover on one of the pitot tubes. The English driver immediately returned to the pits to have it removed. The other McLaren, Piastri's, is instead parked in the garage with the bonnet open. Perhaps, some kind of problem has been encountered.
After fifteen minutes the red flag was given. As reported by Pierre Gasly on the radio, There is a piece of rubber interspace that has come off the kerb at turn 16. First, however, almost all the drivers completed timed laps on soft rubber. The fastest time currently belongs to Lando Norris. Behind him are Russell, Leclerc and the two Red Bulls, with Verstappen in front. With 40 minutes to go in the session, the red flag was lifted, with the stewards having managed to fix the offending kerb. In the meantime, however, work continues in Oscar Piastri's garage. Apparently, there's a problem with the power unit. The mechanics are therefore deciding whether to withdraw the car from the session.
Track action resumes: Hamilton hits the wall
The kerb problem seemed to have been resolved, but after a few minutes of green flags, track activity still hadn't restarted. This is not the first time that the Baku circuit has had structural problems on the track. In 2019, a manhole cover came loose during free practice and hit George Russell's Williams, which suffered significant damage. It was a hard blow for the English team, which at the time was in serious financial difficulty. Returning to the present, With twenty minutes to go, FP1 of the Baku GP resumes. The asphalt also resumes Oscar piastri, who will try to complete some laps. Furthermore, all the drivers returned to the track on soft tyres. This is because the first session here in Baku should help the riders to start getting into the rhythm and getting used to a truly unique track.
Probably, however, as Roberto Chinchero explained in the commentary, the massive use of soft rubber could be due to the fact that In qualifying the teams will use the medium tyres a lot. The teams therefore want to save on sets of this latter type. Meanwhile, the track is being rubberized, and many drivers have fitted new soft tires. Thanks to this Norris manages to improve his time, detaching by a second both Verstappen and Piastri, who are still running on used tyres. With ten minutes to go, however, Lewis Hamilton touched the wall at Turn 5The English champion suffered a puncture on the front left, but still managed to get the car back to the pits.
Norris takes the lead with the fastest time
The other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc instead it succeeds, on new red rubber, to be seen in the upper reaches of the rankings. The Monegasque managed to take second place, but was half a second behind Norris's time. Worth noting is Alexander Albon's fourth goal five minutes from time. However, with his Williams he touched the wall with the right rear in turn 14. His car did not suffer any damage, as also happened to Max Verstappen. The Dutchman chose to take the escape route at Turn 14 rather than continue to set up the lap and hit the wall.
Finally Oscar Piastri also manages to set a more competitive time, He too, after kissing the wall in the same spot as Albon. Despite this, the Australian managed to take second place, just over three tenths behind his teammate. Yuki Tsunoda's performance was good., which with one minute to go FP1 in Baku He's in sixth place, right ahead of Verstappen. Meanwhile, a rather troubled and inconsistent first free practice session is coming to an end. Norris retains the best time with a 1:42.704Piastri, Leclerc, Russell and Albon follow, with the two Red Bulls following. Finally Hamilton, who never returned to the track, finished in 13th position. Alonso far in 15th position, while Antonelli is only 11th.
