Lando Norris leads disrupted FP1 at Azerbaijan GP as McLaren dominate

Lando Norris set the early pace at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, topping a heavily disrupted FP1 session in Baku with a 1:42.704. The McLaren driver edged teammate Oscar Piastri by 0.310s, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third, 0.552s off the benchmark. The session was marred by a lengthy red flag caused by kerb damage at Turn 16/17, which cost teams nearly half an hour of running.

FP1 Recap: Red Flag Chaos and McLaren on Top

The session began under clear skies and warm conditions — 26°C air temperature and 37.9°C track temperature — but the action was quickly halted. A section of kerb at the final sector broke loose, forcing the FIA to stop proceedings for repairs. This unusual delay meant teams had to compress their run plans, with most opting for the C6 soft tyre to maximise performance data gathering.

When the track went green again, the pit lane resembled rush hour. Traffic became a major talking point, with the narrow Baku streets amplifying the speed differentials between cars on push laps and those cruising.

McLaren’s Mixed Fortunes

Norris looked sharp from the outset, delivering purple sectors on fresh softs to go comfortably fastest. Piastri’s session was more complicated — an early power unit issue left him stranded after his out-lap, but McLaren managed to fix the problem in time for him to rejoin and secure P2.

Ferrari and Mercedes in the Mix

Leclerc, a four-time pole-sitter in Baku, slotted into third, just ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes. Russell, recovering from illness, showed strong pace in sector two but couldn’t match McLaren’s outright speed. Carlos Sainz ended up eighth, while Lewis Hamilton’s session was compromised by a brush with the wall that caused a puncture and front wing damage.

Midfield Standouts

Williams impressed, with Alex Albon taking fifth, while Yuki Tsunoda put his Red Bull in sixth. The Racing Bulls duo of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar both made the top ten, underlining the team’s strong straight-line speed — Lawson was fastest through the final sector.

Max Verstappen had a scrappy session, running wide and complaining of instability under braking. He finished seventh, over a second off Norris.

FP1 Classification – Top 10

Lando Norris – McLaren – 1:42.704
Oscar Piastri – McLaren – +0.310
Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +0.552
George Russell – Mercedes – +0.553
Alex Albon – Williams – +0.859
Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull Racing – +1.034
Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing – +1.086
Carlos Sainz – Williams – +1.155
Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls – +1.199
Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls – +1.271

Key Takeaways

1. McLaren’s Title Push Looks Strong

With McLaren able to clinch the Constructors’ Championship this weekend by outscoring Ferrari by nine points, their FP1 form is an ominous sign for the competition. Both drivers were immediately quick despite Piastri’s early setback.

2. Track Evolution Will Be Crucial

Lap times were around 1.4s slower than last year’s pole, suggesting significant improvement is possible as the surface rubbers in. Teams will be keen to refine their setups in FP2 with more representative conditions.

3. Midfield Battle Heating Up

Williams and Racing Bulls appear to have brought competitive low-drag packages, which could make them dangerous in qualifying and the race, especially with Baku’s long straights.

4. Red Bull Searching for Balance

Verstappen’s braking instability and Tsunoda’s higher top speed hint at differing setups within the team. Expect adjustments before FP2.

What’s Next?

FP2 will be critical, with teams needing to complete long-run simulations and test alternative compounds after the disrupted morning. With the championship picture tightening and Baku’s walls ready to punish mistakes, the next session promises to be intense.