Max Verstappen denied George Russell a clear sweep of quickest observe occasions as Crimson Bull led a renewed problem to the Mercedes drivers forward of Qualifying in a while Friday on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The arrival of extra attribute gusty situations on the streets of Baku for remaining observe elevated the problem across the wall-lined circuit, with quite a few drivers working off monitor after errors all through the hour.
Mercedes’ dominance from Thursday’s calmer working initially continued, however Verstappen discovered growing tempo on the tender tyres and finally usurped Russell on the high of the timesheet with a finest lap of 1:43.922.
Russell, who had a near-miss with the limitations at Flip Seven after working straight on, completed 0.099s behind in second.
Ferrari had been effectively behind the main tempo for a lot of the session however Lewis Hamilton moved into third together with his remaining lap to complete solely 0.111s adrift of Verstappen.
Like his Crimson Bull rival earlier within the session, Hamilton’s final-lap time was boosted by a tow from different automobiles down Baku’s mammoth pit straight, giving him further straight-line pace.
Each the tow and the wind are set to be key elements within the battle for pole place in Qualifying, which will get underneath means at 1pm, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Sports activities Essential Occasion.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Craig Slater breaks down the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, together with why the race takes place on a Saturday, whereas doing his finest Craig David impression!
“The climate has introduced us the opportunity of a completely fascinating and dramatic qualifying to come back,” stated Sky Sports activities F1’s David Croft.
“These aren’t simple situations on the market by any stretch of the creativeness.”
Kimi Antonelli, who leads Russell by 81 factors within the championship, was fourth quickest forward of the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Each drivers had been amongst these to have off-course moments.
Three weeks on from the beautiful lap that took him to a maiden F1 pole at equally high-speed Monza, Pierre Gasly put his Alpine up in sixth to outpace the McLarens.
Regardless of McLaren bringing a sizeable automotive improve to Baku, Lando Norris already dominated the reigning world champions out of pole competition after Thursday’s working and that prediction seems correct after they lapped 0.8s off the tempo right here.
Max Verstappen enters the Baku Metropolis Circuit’s iconic Citadel part
Oscar Piastri was seventh quickest forward of Norris, though each had been forward of Crimson Bull’s Isack Hadjar who seems to nonetheless be getting again up to the mark after a three-race absence with a wrist harm.
Franco Colapinto was tenth within the second Alpine, simply forward of Carlos Sainz in a heavily-revised Williams automotive which confirmed extra promise on Friday morning because the staff bid to hitch the grid’s congested upper-midfield battle.
Lance Stroll accomplished solely 9 laps after tagging his Aston Martin towards the within wall at Flip One and stopping within the run-off space.
Sky Sports activities F1’s Azerbaijan GP dwell schedule
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Look again at a number of the most dramatic moments to have taken place across the Baku Metropolis Circuit
Friday September 25
11.10am: F2 Function Race 1*
12.30pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up*
1PM: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING*
3pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Saturday September 26
7.55am: F2 Function Race 2
10.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12PM: THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP response*
3pm: Ted’s Pocket book*
*additionally dwell on Sky Sports activities Essential Occasion
Racing on a Saturday! The 2026 Method 1 season continues dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 this week because the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off a triple-header of races, with the Baku race going down on Saturday at noon. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime