FP1 F1 Azerbaijan GP: Norris Outpaces Piastri

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lando Norris led the way in a disrupted Free Practice 1 (FP1) for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Baku's street circuit, edging out teammate Oscar Piastri, who battled early technical issues. A bizarre 26-minute red flag, triggered by a kerb strip dislodged by Carlos Sainz's Williams, halted proceedings. Sportrik's detailed analysis highlights McLaren's early edge, technical challenges, and weekend implications, with track conditions and tire choices shaping outcomes.

Norris posted the fastest time of 1:42.704, 0.310 seconds ahead of Piastri, who recovered from a power unit glitch to take second. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari claimed third (0.552 seconds back), followed by George Russell of Mercedes in fourth (0.717 seconds). Alex Albon (Williams) took fifth, while Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing landed P6 and P7, roughly a second off the pace. Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls completed the top 10, with Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) in 13th after wall contact.

Session Timeline and Key Moments

The session opened on a dusty track, prompting cautious early laps. Norris led with 1:43.747, 0.4 seconds clear of Russell, followed by Leclerc, Verstappen, and Tsunoda—all within a second, running soft tires. Pirelli's softer compounds this year boosted grip but challenged stability.

After 13 minutes, a red flag emerged when Sainz's Williams tore a rubber strip from Turn 16's kerb, raising safety concerns. Marshals struggled to clear it, delaying the session for 26 minutes. This proved fortunate for Piastri, sidelined by a power unit issue early on; repairs during the stoppage minimized his lost track time to four or five laps.

Norris, on fresh softs, set a 1:42.704, surpassing Leclerc's 2024 Q1 best. Leclerc climbed to second (0.552 seconds off), Russell third (0.717 seconds), and Albon fourth (0.859 seconds). Piastri, despite clipping a barrier at Turn 15, secured second, 0.310 seconds behind Norris. Verstappen, locking up at Turn 3, and Tsunoda trailed by a second in P7 and P6. Sainz improved to P8, while Hamilton, after damaging his front wing at Turn 5, finished 13th (1.383 seconds down).

Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly of Alpine propped up the order, Gasly 2.714 seconds off. Fernando Alonso in Aston Martin languished in P15, grappling with an unstable car.

Performance and Challenges Breakdown

McLaren showcased early dominance, with Norris excelling in Baku's high-speed zones and Piastri overcoming his early scare, though his wall tap signals setup risks. Ferrari held pace via Leclerc and Sainz, but Hamilton's damage flags over-aggressive tuning. Red Bull's Verstappen and Tsunoda likely prioritized long-run data, explaining their one-second gap. Racing Bulls impressed with Lawson and Hadjar in the top 10, while Williams shone via Albon.

Sportrik notes Pirelli's softer tires amplified speed but complicated handling on the slick track. Traffic and run-offs, especially at Turns 3 and 15, persisted as hurdles. Mercedes relied on Russell, while Aston Martin needs suspension tweaks for Alonso to contend.

Baku Weekend Prospects

This FP1 sets a thrilling stage, with McLaren ahead but vulnerable on Baku's unforgiving layout. Historically, no FP1 leader has won the Azerbaijan GP, pressuring Norris to sustain form into qualifying. Red Bull and Ferrari are poised for FP2 gains, while Colapinto’s red-flag probe could impact Alpine’s plans. Sportrik expects a tight contest, with Norris and Piastri in focus. Our analysis will track evolving dynamics for deeper insights toward race day.

Source: racingnews365.com