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George Russell set the
fastest time in the second free practice session in Baku, stopping the clock
at 1:43.347. The Mercedes driver achieved his benchmark on the Soft compound
and also completed two stints on the Medium. Behind him was team-mate Kimi
Antonelli, 0.552s adrift with a 1:43.899, while Max Verstappen finished
third in 1:44.174.
All three drivers used both the Medium and Soft
compounds during the session, setting their best times on the softer tyre.
It was an approach adopted by most of the field, with only a few exceptions.
The two McLaren drivers and Franco Colapinto paired a set of Hards with a
set of Softs, while Aston Martin focused its programme exclusively on the
C5.
During FP2, air temperatures remained around 31°C, while track
temperature peaked at 44.8°C. Even higher values had been recorded during
the first session, when the track reached 47.6°C. Wind also played a
significant role in FP1, a characteristic feature of the Azerbaijani
circuit, with gusts of up to 25 km/h.
In the morning session, the
majority of mileage was completed on the Hard tyre, corresponding to the C3
compound this weekend. Only Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Franco Colapinto
began their running on the Medium, while all the other drivers started their
programmes on the hardest compound.
As the session progressed, 12
drivers switched to the Soft. The fastest time of the morning was set by
George Russell, who recorded a 1:45.387 on the C5. Max Verstappen also set
his best lap on the Soft compound, while Charles Leclerc finished third
using the Medium.
Simone Berra: Chief Engineer:
"It was a first day heavily influenced by a particularly dirty track, with
dust even on the racing line, resulting in very significant track evolution.
Lap times improved consistently throughout the day, with differences of up
to two seconds between the two sessions. Compared to last year, the track
surface appeared less favourable, particularly affecting the tyre warm-up
phase.
Teams focused their work on car set-up in order to bring the
tyres into the correct operating window, especially on the front axle. This
proved to be crucial both for maximising single-lap performance, which was
often achieved only after several attempts, and for limiting the risk of
braking lock-ups.
The teams generally completed an intensive
programme of work with all three compounds in preparation for a race that is
increasingly expected to be a one-stop affair. Degradation levels were in
fact very low, and track evolution almost completely offset tyre wear during
some long runs, making lap times progressively quicker. We did not observe
any graining, which is an interesting finding considering the very smooth
track surface. In terms of lap time performance, the data indicates deltas
broadly in line with simulations: around half a second between the C4 and
C5, and a few tenths between the C3 and C4.
Looking ahead to
tomorrow, with lower temperatures and stronger wind gusts forecast, tyre
preparation will once again be a key factor. The track will offer more grip
than today, but teams will need to manage traffic and generate as much
energy as possible in the tyres. For Saturday’s Grand Prix, all compounds
remain theoretically viable, although the two softer options may take on a
more prominent role in light of the expected drop in temperatures."
FORMULA 2:
Alongside the traditional Sprint Race, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend
features a special schedule with two Formula 2 Feature Races. Drivers
therefore took part in two separate qualifying sessions on Thursday. In
Qualifying 1, Alex Dunne secured pole position with a time of 1:55.383. This
pole determines the grid for the first Feature Race and for the Sprint Race,
which will use the traditional partially reversed-grid format. Martinius
Stenshorne qualified second with a 1:55.416, while Noël León took third with
a 1:55.517. In Qualifying 2, which sets the starting order for the second
Feature Race of the weekend, Stenshorne turned the tables by setting the
fastest time with a 1:55.728. Qualifying 1 pole-sitter Dunne finished second
with a 1:54.173, while Rafael Câmara recorded the third-fastest time with a
1:54.227.
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