Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Weekend Recap

Formula One returned to the streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following a significant announcement from a certain Silverstone-based outfit. Aston Martin announced in the middle of the week that they have signed the legendary Adrian Newey as their Managing technical partner as well as a shareholder of the team. Adrian Newey has had storied stints with Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, his car designs winning 12 drivers' and 13 constructors' championships. He is rightfully hailed as one of if not the greatest designers in F1's history, and after nearly two decades at Red Bull, his announcement to leave the team stirred the paddock earlier this year. Lawrence Stroll hopes that Newey's signing will be the missing piece of the Aston Martin Championship puzzle.

The weekend was the beginning of a pair of back-to-back street circuits, with the traveling circus visiting Singapore next week. Back here at the shores of the Caspian Sea, the papaya crew announced that they would prioritize Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri moving forward to help the Briton's bid to win the championship. This is crucial, as the controversial Papaya rules in Italy led to Piastri finishing second ahead of Norris. Oscar Piastri's first lap overtake had everyone wondering whether or not McLaren should activate team orders, and they got their answer with Team Principal Andrea Stella stating that Piastri will be asked to help Lando starting from Baku. Kevin Magnussen, who hit a maximum season tally of 12 penalty points, was handed a one-race ban and lent his Haas to Oliver Bearman for this weekend. Bearman substituted for an ailing Carlos Sainz at Ferrari back in Saudi Arabia and had recently been announced as Haas's full-time 2025 driver.

Friday Practice Sessions

The Friday practice sessions kicked off with drama on the streets of Baku as Max Verstappen topped FP1 in a shortened, incident-filled session, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rebounded from a crash to narrowly lead FP2.

Max Verstappen set the pace in the first practice session, clocking a 1m45.546s to secure the top spot. However, the session was interrupted by multiple red flags due to crashes from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and rookie Franco Colapinto.

The session began under tricky conditions as a light morning rain made the already low-grip Baku circuit even more challenging. Oscar Piastri described the conditions as "very, very low grip" when the cars first hit the 6km city circuit. Early times were up to six seconds slower than last year’s FP1, with Verstappen quickly emerging as the leader after 10 minutes, posting a 1m47.214s on medium tires. After just 12 minutes, the first red flag was thrown due to metal debris at Turn 12.

Once the track was cleared, Verstappen quickly improved his time to 1m46.858s before being beaten by Leclerc, who set a 1m46.608s lap.

Leclerc’s session took a considerable downturn when he hit the wall at Turn 15, damaging the front right of his SF-24 after clipping a dirty part of the track, causing the second red flag.

With 26 minutes left on the clock, the session resumed, and drivers switched to soft tires. A brief battle for the top ensued, with Lewis Hamilton momentarily leading the timing sheets with a 1m45.859s.

However, the session was halted for a third time when Colapinto lost control of his Williams and crashed into the wall at Turn 4. The session resumed with 11 minutes remaining, allowing for one final round of hot laps. Verstappen capitalized on this, setting a 1m45.546s to finish fastest, ahead of Hamilton in second and teammate Sergio Perez in third.

After his crash in first practice, Charles Leclerc recovered in FP2 to top the timesheets with a 1m43.484s, narrowly beating Sergio Perez by just 0.006 seconds. Ferrari repaired Leclerc’s car after his earlier incident, but the Monegasque was frustrated with the handling, calling the steering "heavy" over the radio. Despite his concerns, Leclerc returned to the track, and set his best time on soft tires toward the end of the session.

Early in FP2, Max Verstappen initially led the way, looking to repeat his performance from FP1. However, Sergio Perez set a strong lap on the medium compound, nearly a second faster than his Red Bull teammate. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz then momentarily took the top spot with a 1m44.323s before Perez reclaimed it with a 1m43.490s on soft tires.

As the session progressed, Leclerc delivered his best lap of the day, beating Perez by the slimmest of margins, while Lewis Hamilton slotted into third, just 0.06s behind Perez. Sainz finished fourth but was placed under investigation for impeding Perez on a flying lap.

Oscar Piastri led the charge for McLaren in fifth, while Verstappen, unable to match his earlier pace, ended up sixth. Lance Stroll finished close behind in seventh, followed by Nico Hulkenberg in eighth for Haas. George Russell’s session was cut short by an unspecified issue, leaving him in ninth. Oliver Bearman rounded out the top 10 in his first race weekend for Haas.

Final Practice

George Russell marginally led the final practice session, setting a 1m42.514s lap to beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.013s. The competitive session saw Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari all in the mix ahead of qualifying, with Russell leading the charge for Mercedes despite power unit issues earlier in the weekend.

The session began cautiously, with installation laps dominating the early running. A few light raindrops added to the drivers' hesitancy, and no flying laps were completed in the first 10 minutes. Just as the pace began to pick up, the session was halted by a red flag after Esteban Ocon’s Alpine stopped on track.

Once the Alpine was cleared, the session resumed after a 10-minute delay. Early times were slower than Friday’s FP2, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri setting the first competitive lap on fresh soft tires at 1m45.476s. Leclerc initially appeared on pace to challenge the leaders, posting a time significantly faster than his rivals. However, his attempt was interrupted by another red flag, this time caused by Haas driver Oliver Bearman, who misjudged Turn 1 and damaged his front-left wheel against the Tecpro barrier. After a six-minute recovery, the session resumed, allowing Lando Norris and Alex Albon to shuffle to the top of the timesheets before Leclerc finally managed a clean lap to set a 1m43.455s.

Sergio Perez briefly dethroned Leclerc with a 1m43.389s, but both were soon put in the shade by Piastri, who clocked a 1m42.749s to lead the pack. Leclerc responded by regaining the top spot with a 1m42.527s, only for Russell to snatch it in the final minutes, posting a 1m42.514s.McLaren’s Norris impressed with a 1m42.737s lap to finish third, ahead of teammate Piastri in fourth.

Despite Verstappen’s strong performance on Friday, the Red Bull driver struggled to match his usual form in FP3. A late attempt with a tow from Perez wasn’t enough, and he settled for fifth. Carlos Sainz, hampered by traffic from Perez at Turn 15, split the Red Bulls with a sixth-place finish. Albon and rookie Franco Colapinto continued to impress, while Lewis Hamilton completed the top 10 for Mercedes, ending a competitive and eventful final practice session.

Qualifying

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc stormed to his fourth consecutive pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, fending off a strong challenge from McLaren's Oscar Piastri. The qualifying session delivered intense drama, with Leclerc delivering two pole-worthy laps in Q3, while McLaren title contender Lando Norris faced a significant setback after being eliminated in Q1.

Q1

The first qualifying session kicked off under tricky conditions, with track evolution playing a major role. As the low-grip Baku street circuit began to rubber in, drivers scrambled to set competitive lap times. Norris, a key contender in the championship, found himself in trouble early on.

After sliding over the high kerbs at Turn 16 during his final attempt, Norris was further hampered by confusion over a yellow flag caused by Esteban Ocon’s slow-moving Alpine. Unsure of whether the flag had been cleared, Norris lifted off and backed out of his lap. His previous best time wasn’t enough to progress, leaving him stranded in 17th place for Sunday’s race. It was his first Q1 elimination since the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, dealing a blow to his title aspirations.

Meanwhile, the Sauber duo of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, along with Daniel Ricciardo, failed to make it out of Q1, as did Ocon, who had struggled with issues throughout the weekend.

Q2

In Q2, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman came close to making the top 10 but narrowly missed out by one-tenth of a second. Despite a strong recovery from an earlier FP3 crash, the Brit will start 11th, just ahead of Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda. Pierre Gasly, Nico Hulkenberg, and Lance Stroll also found themselves knocked out in Q2, with Stroll’s Aston Martin struggling to match teammate Fernando Alonso’s pace.

Franco Colapinto of Williams impressed by making it into Q3 for only his second race weekend in Formula 1. The rookie outqualified his more experienced teammate Alex Albon, who encountered a bizarre incident when he was sent out with the airbox fan still attached to his car. Albon managed to set a lap but fell behind Colapinto in the standings.

Q3

Leclerc entered Q3 as the man to beat, and he did not disappoint. His first lap of 1m41.872s was enough to take provisional pole, but the Ferrari driver solidified his position with a second lap that was even faster. His dominance on the Baku street circuit continued, securing his fourth consecutive pole in Azerbaijan.

Oscar Piastri put in a stellar performance for McLaren, securing second place on the grid, just three-tenths behind Leclerc. The young Australian outpaced Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who had to settle for third, marking a strong day for Ferrari overall.

Sergio Perez once again outqualified his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, claiming fourth on the grid. Perez has shown strong form all weekend in Baku, and his solid Q3 performance places him in a good position for the race. George Russell split the Red Bulls, taking fifth, while Verstappen, who struggled to extract the maximum from his car, ended up sixth.

Lewis Hamilton secured seventh for Mercedes, ahead of Fernando Alonso in eighth, while Colapinto’s dream weekend continued as he took ninth place, making it into Q3 for the first time in his career. Albon completed the top 10, despite the earlier pit lane mishap.

While Leclerc celebrated another pole in Baku, Norris was left to reflect on a missed opportunity. The McLaren driver, who is trailing Max Verstappen by 62 points in the championship, now faces a difficult recovery race. Meanwhile, Piastri’s excellent qualifying session could provide McLaren with a glimmer of hope in the fight for points on Sunday.

Race

Oscar Piastri claimed his second Formula 1 victory in a thrilling Azerbaijan Grand Prix, fending off polesitter Charles Leclerc in a dramatic battle. The McLaren driver showcased not just skill, but also remarkable composure, as he capitalized on a crucial overtake to lead a race that saw crashes, comebacks, and title implications. In a stellar performance, Piastri's victory also provided a significant boost to McLaren’s season, which has been marked by both strong strategic calls and a rapidly improving car.

Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate, outscored championship leader Max Verstappen, who struggled with car setup throughout the weekend, while late chaos took out major contenders Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz. This allowed Norris to continue his own resurgence and narrow the gap in the championship standings.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, starting from pole for the fourth consecutive year in Baku, looked poised to break his Baku curse and secure a long-awaited win on the high-speed street circuit. He maintained the lead at the start, with Piastri slotting into second and Perez moving past Sainz for third. This early formation set the tone for an intense strategic battle between Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull.

Behind them, Verstappen managed to leapfrog George Russell for fifth, but the Red Bull star was already complaining about his car’s behavior, particularly rear-end bouncing, which compromised his grip and cornering speed, making it difficult to keep pace with Sainz. Verstappen’s struggles were clear from the start, signaling that Red Bull’s usually dominant form might falter in this race.

As the race settled, the leading group began to build gaps. Leclerc edged out a six-second lead over Piastri and Perez, with a one-stop strategy on medium and hard tires expected to be the key. However, tire degradation, a critical factor on the Baku street circuit, started playing into the hands of the chasers. Perez blinked first, pitting on lap 14 for hard tires. His early stop didn’t prompt immediate reactions from Leclerc or Piastri, and when he rejoined, he found himself behind Norris, who had started 15th and was running an impressive long first stint on hard tires.

Norris, with nothing to lose, held Perez up just long enough for Piastri to avoid the undercut. This allowed the Australian to maintain his second-place position after his own pit stop, a move that became pivotal in McLaren's strategy.

By lap 20, Piastri had closed the gap to Leclerc to just over a second. The McLaren driver made a bold move, lunging down the inside of Turn 1 to take the lead in what would become the defining moment of the race. Leclerc was stunned, remarking to his team that Piastri’s pace was "crazy," especially given there were still 30 laps left to run on the hard tires. It was a testament to the confidence McLaren’s upgrades have given their drivers, and Piastri’s ability to manage the tires under pressure.

Leclerc stayed within striking distance, attempting to reclaim the lead multiple times at Turn 1. However, Piastri, showcasing remarkable maturity for a rookie winner, held firm, keeping the Ferrari man at bay. His driving was characterized by precision and intelligent tire management, allowing him to fend off a far more experienced opponent.

The Piastri-Leclerc battle allowed Perez to close in, conserving his tires for a late charge. Sainz, who had been running a lonely race in fourth, also began to close in on the front trio. But as Perez attempted a move on Leclerc on the penultimate lap, disaster struck. The Mexican driver tangled with Sainz coming out of Turn 2, sending both into the wall and out of the race. This crash not only robbed Red Bull and Ferrari of valuable points but also threw the championship chase into further uncertainty.

Apart from Perez and Sainz, Yuki Tsunoda was the other retirement after a lap-one clash with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, which caused terminal floor damage for Tsunoda and a puncture for Stroll. Tsunoda’s retirement marked yet another difficult weekend for AlphaTauri, as the team continues to search for consistent race finishes.

With the race neutralized under a virtual safety car, Piastri cruised to victory, crossing the line ahead of Leclerc, who had to settle for second after a fierce battle with the young Aussie. Mercedes’ George Russell, who had been in contention but unable to match the pace of the top three, inherited the final podium spot in third, another sign of Mercedes’ improving form as they continue to unlock performance from their W14.

Lando Norris executed a brilliant comeback race, starting from 15th on the grid. Running a long first stint on hard tires, Norris was able to hold off Verstappen early on before pitting on lap 38. He then managed to claw back a 15-second deficit to re-pass the struggling Red Bull driver for fourth. His recovery drive also saw him take the fastest lap, earning valuable points in the championship and reducing Verstappen’s lead to 59 points. Norris’s late-race pace was a strong indicator that McLaren has found something special in their race setup, particularly in terms of tire longevity.

Verstappen, who continued to struggle with his car’s handling throughout the race, finished a disappointing fifth. His inability to make significant gains during the race signaled a rare off weekend for the reigning champion, who is usually imperious even under difficult circumstances. Red Bull will need to investigate the issues with their car's setup as they head into the next round of the championship.

Fernando Alonso had a quiet but effective race, finishing sixth. Williams’ Alex Albon, who started on hard tires, ran as high as third in the first stint but eventually finished seventh after a strong race. Albon’s pace demonstrated that Williams continues to make strides, with their car becoming increasingly competitive in the midfield.

Lewis Hamilton made a solid recovery from a pitlane start, finishing ninth. The Mercedes driver had opted for engine and suspension changes overnight, but his pace, coupled with the misfortune of Sainz and Perez, allowed him to climb into the points. Hamilton’s consistency remains a key asset for Mercedes as they navigate a challenging season.

Rookie Franco Colapinto impressed once again, securing eighth place and valuable points in only his second F1 race. His performance was a highlight for Williams, marking a strong weekend for the team. Colapinto’s rapid adaptation to Formula 1 continues to draw praise from across the paddock, with many tipping him as a future star. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman also capped off a strong weekend by securing his first F1 point with a 10th-place finish. Bearman outpaced his more experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who finished just outside the points in 11th. For Bearman, this result will boost his confidence as he continues to learn the ropes of Formula 1.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix proved to be one of the most dramatic races of the season, with Oscar Piastri’s victory adding a new dimension to the championship narrative. Going into Singapore, for the first time in 55 races, Red Bull is not in the lead of the championship. What a season this has been, and shaping up to be.