The tight and unpredictable streets of Baku once again delivered excitement as the Formula 1 circus roared into Azerbaijan for the first free practice session of the weekend. Traditionally, the Baku City Circuit has thrown curveballs at teams and drivers, with its unique blend of high-speed straights and technical corners demanding a perfect balance between straight-line speed and downforce. This year's opening session lived up to expectations, offering intrigue for spectators and headaches for race engineers.
Lando Norris emerged as the fastest man on the track during the truncated and interruption-filled session. Behind the wheel of his rapidly improving McLaren, Norris pipped his teammate Oscar Piastri to top the timesheets, while Charles Leclerc made sure Ferrari's name was not far from the top. The trio demonstrated a blend of raw pace and growing confidence on a circuit famed for rewarding boldness and punishing mistakes. McLaren's strength was particularly evident, indicating the Woking-based team may be closing the gap to the longstanding front-runners.
Early on, the session was disrupted following Yuki Tsunoda's impact with the unforgiving barriers. As marshals hustled to remove debris and restore the circuit to racing condition, valuable practice minutes ticked away, compressing an already short session into a pressure-packed sprint for setup data and confidence. These periods of inactivity, coupled with the growing wind swirling through downtown Baku, kept teams guessing and forced many to revise carefully laid plans. As green flags returned, the drivers wasted no time, quickly lighting up the timing screens.
McLaren's double-pronged attack, with Norris and Piastri leading the field, highlighted the effectiveness of their recent upgrades. Norris demonstrated particular confidence through Baku’s twisty castle section, while Piastri impressed by matching his more experienced teammate, hinting at a potentially electrifying intra-team battle as the weekend unfolds. The British team’s fine form was matched by Charles Leclerc, who navigated the perilous circuit with characteristic verve. The Monegasque’s session, however, was not without drama, as a few lock-ups and moments on the edge underscored just how hard every driver must push to extract maximum performance in Azerbaijan.
Elsewhere in the paddock, Red Bull appeared to have a subdued start, with both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez focusing on long-run pace rather than headline-grabbing lap times. Team insiders hinted at a program centered on race simulations and tire management, vital factors at a venue where strategic flexibility can determine the final result. Mercedes, too, encountered a session of mixed fortunes, grappling with setup changes and fluctuating wind conditions. Lewis Hamilton reported difficulty finding the right balance, while George Russell spent significant time in the garage for adjustments.
Alpine and Aston Martin, both teams looking to solidify their hold on the midfield, showcased glimpses of potential. Esteban Ocon, in particular, found the limits of adhesion on more than one occasion, underlining just how treacherous Baku remains. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin continued to demonstrate savvy racecraft and consistency, setting competitive times despite running a somewhat conservative program. The high-speed nature of the straight down to Turn 1 saw several drivers experimenting with tow strategies, eager to pick up valuable tenths in a field where the margins are razor-thin.
With only one practice session before the all-important qualifying and Sprint events, the pressure firmly mounted on teams and drivers to make every lap count. The combination of a new weekend format and the ever-present threat of Baku’s looming walls ensures that everything remains wide open. Fans can look forward to a dramatic Saturday, where grid positions and critical championship points are on the line in both the Sprint and Grand Prix. If today's session was any indication, Baku is once again set to be a key battleground in this year’s unpredictable and fiercely contested Formula 1 season.
