F1 | FP3 | Azerbaijan GP | Norris leads final practice after rocky FP2 - Motorsport

Spread the love

Norris went fastest during a windy and yellow flag filled FP3 of the Azerbaijan GP, followed by Verstappen and Piastri

FP2 in Baku delivered plenty of drama around the city streets of Baku. Lewis Hamilton set the pace, finishing just ahead of Charles Leclerc and George Russell, as Mercedes and Ferrari fought closely at the front. Lando Norris crashed early and ended his day after only seven laps, while Oscar Piastri and Franco Colapinto also brushed the barriers. Rookies Kimi Antonelli and Ollie Bearman impressed with top-five speed, as Max Verstappen struggled to sixth after a scrappy run. With yellow flags, wall touches, and constant changes at the top, the session kept the tension high. FP3 of the Azerbaijan GP promised another tight battle before qualifying.

Wind as a challenge as the green flags go out

With FP3 for the Azerbaijan GP to start, the wind picked up today. As the session went green, the first cars started to make their way out after almost 7 minutes into the session. With Rookies Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar and Ollie Bearman starting to drive around Baku.

The wind seemed to be a problem, as Hadjar commented on being pushed around by it. A radio message, that could be heard more often. Bearman caused a brief yellow flag as he needed to use the safety exit before he could go back on track, as the only one out after 10 minutes of FP3 of the Azerbaijan GP. With a 1:47.333 Bearman set put himself on top but being the only one that set a time so far.

45 minutes to go

With another complaint due to the wind by Bearman, Norris started his FP3 of the Azerbaijan GP. Just as a Yellow Flag is out for a brief moment in Baku. With Norris starting to set a fast lap, more cars started to get on track, causing some traffic around the narrow city streets in Azerbaijan. Even though Norris used this lap as a Qualifying simulation, the McLaren driver came in second behind Bearman.

Following Piastri setting the fastest lap after 20 minutes into the session, it seemed that the McLaren driver has a different approach to this session, as his time did not match his time of yesterday. On the other hand, his teammate complained about the wind, causing difficulties for the Brit after his crash in FP2 that damaged his suspension.

Meanwhile, Verstappen and Russell were enjoying his time in the box, waiting to come out of the garage and start to drive through the streets of Baku. Though having problems with his front wing, Norris set the fastest lap so far with a 1:43.640, almost 0.5 seconds faster than Bearman. Leclerc got caught by the wind that pushed him off the track, without causing any damage, beating the time of Norris. Hamilton had a moment, which caused a brief yellow flag for going off in turn 3.

Half-time of FP3 at the Azerbaijan GP

With a little more than half an hour left on the clock, Verstappen and Russell come out of their garages. Verstappen pitted his Red Bull onto P2, Russell couldn’t match the speed and stayed on P15 in his Mercedes, while Bortoleto caused another short yellow flag for going off in turn 3.

Gasly caused a short yellow flag as he hit the barriers with his front left in turn 6, complaining about hurting his thumb during it. The Alpine driver seemed to have more problems as he went off in turn 1.

Leclerc now set the fastest lap with a 1:42.354, while some of the drivers started to head back into the pits, with 25 minutes left on the clock. The Monégasque was followed by Verstappen and Piastri, as Bearman went up to fourth with the hard tire, splitting up the group of soft tires.

Verstappen on the charge and Leclerc kissing the wall

With almost everyone back in the pits, Leclerc brushed the wall while he kept pushing for a new fast lap, as he went slightly quicker than in his previous time. Verstappen took the chance of little traffic and climbed to the top of the chart, being 6 tenths faster than Leclerc. Meanwhile, Lawson spun on track, saving his car from damage, being able to continue with the session. It was revealed Leclerc did gain some damage to his suspension, as he complained about it on his radio.

As FP3 of the Azerbaijan GP hit the 45-minute mark, 12 cars were out for the last 15 minutes of this session. Meanwhile, Albon started to push for a fast lap setting purple sectors in sector 1 and 2, pushing his Williams to P2. With Norris using his time to push for a fast lap as he challenged Verstappen’s time, he pit himself half a second in front of Verstappen claiming the top spot of the table.

10 minutes left of FP3 in Baku

Another yellow flag was out, due to Piastri going straight in turn 1, having to abort another lap, after he almost hit the wall on his last push lap in Baku. As Albon went off in turn 3 it seemed that the wind picked up, causing yet another short yellow flag. Piastri and Verstappen challenged Norris time with 5 minutes left on the clock, though both were unable to top the time of Norris. Along the way, the Ferraris found their pace of the weekend again with Hamilton going purple in sector 1, putting himself back into third.

With only 1 minute left on the clock, Norris stopped at turn 1 causing a short yellow flag. Just as, Bortoleto was put under investigation from the stewards for a yellow flag infringement, another short yellow flag was caused by Leclerc going off in turn 3. Norris finished fastest in FP3, followed by Verstappen and Piastri, showing his major improvement after yesterday’s FP2.