Verstappen defies Mercedes dominance to top Baku FP3 session
In a session that defied the established order in Baku, Max Verstappen surged to the top of the timing sheets during the third and final practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite Mercedes appearing to hold the upper hand throughout the weekend, the Red Bull driver utilized a massive slipstream on the 2km straight to snatch the fastest time, finishing ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
A Tricky Session in Variable Conditions
The one-hour practice session began quietly, with the Alpine drivers leading an early running that sat significantly off the paces established during Friday's FP2. As the heavyweights began to flex their muscles, Charles Leclerc set an early benchmark of 1m45.564s on soft tyres, momentarily moving ahead of Hamilton.
However, the session was far from straightforward. Gusty winds made the cars increasingly unpredictable, and race control was forced to deploy a brief virtual safety car after a tree branch was swept onto the track. Verstappen himself noted the difficult handling characteristics, describing the Red Bull as “jumping like a kangaroo” before he eventually ran wide into the Turn 15 runoff.
The technical challenges were not limited to handling; the session also saw an early retirement for Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, who tagged the wall at Turn 1 and was forced to park his car.
Mercedes Pace vs. Red Bull's Late Surge
While Mercedes showed immense strength, particularly through Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, Verstappen's late charge provided a significant counter-narrative. Russell had looked incredibly sharp, setting a 1m44.021s lap on softs, but a subsequent lock-up at Turn 1 and an excursion through Turn 7 prevented him from maximizing his potential.
Ultimately, Verstappen capitalized on a crucial tow to deliver a 1m43.922s lap, splitting the Mercedes duo to claim the top spot. This late performance suggests a competitive qualifying ahead, even if the Red Bull's true pace may be somewhat flattered by the slipstreaming effect.
The top of the order rounded out with Hamilton in third, followed by Leclerc and Pierre Gasly. Meanwhile, McLaren struggled to find their rhythm despite recent upgrades, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finishing seventh and eighth. Notably, the session also featured a return for Isack Hadjar, who secured ninth place for Red Bull.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.