Lewis Hamilton‘s commanding lap in Friday afternoon’s F1 Azerbaijan GP practice notably eclipsed the previous year’s pole time as he led a rare Ferrari 1-2 while both McLarens suffered wall collisions.
Under bright and hot weather conditions, the second practice session revealed important insights into both the track’s evolving grip level and the teams’ readiness for what could be a fiercely competitive race weekend.
Hamilton showcased impressive speed and control to set the fastest lap of the entire weekend so far with a remarkable time of 1:41.293, edging his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc who secured P2 just 0.074s adrift.
The Ferrari 1-2 was a huge statement of intent from the Scuderia on a street circuit notorious for its narrow, unforgiving corners and tight barriers.
Lewis Hamilton’s lap was notably quicker than last year’s pole time, hinting improved car performance and setup that could make this weekend very promising for the Italian outfit.
During the session, teams focused on longer runs under different tyres to meet the unique demands of the Baku street circuit, which blends high-speed straights with tight technical sections and unforgiving walls, prompting several drivers to explore the limits cautiously.
Early running saw Kick Sauber duo Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto hit the track in medium tyres to establish baseline lap times.
However, competitive lap times began to emerge with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri proceeding to break the 1:44 barrier with a 1:43.307 on the soft compound C6 tires, followed by faster times from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell.
Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris also clocked impressive fast laps, with Norris temporarily taking P1 before Hamilton eventually claimed the top spot.
Full 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix FP2 Results
Lando Norris leads McLaren 1-2 in red-flagged opening Azerbaijan GP practice
However, Norris’s next run on soft tyres saw him lose the rear of his car at Turn 4, smashing the left rear suspension of his McLaren against the barrier.
The crash prematurely ended his session, forcing him to limp his MCL39 back to the pits with heavily damaged car that would be difficult to repair in time for the subsequent sessions.
Norris was able to nurse his MCL39 back to the pits but the damage too severe to repair in time for subsequent running, with his previous fast lap only good enough for 10th.
Shortly after, Oscar Piastri also made contact with the wall at Turn 15 but his impact was less severe, allowing him to continue his session with his best lap only managing 13th.
Besides both McLarens crashing, the Australian driver was later placed under investigation for allegedly failing to slow under yellow flags halfway through the session.
Away from Ferrari and McLaren drama, Mercedes showed competitive form in second F1 Azerbaijan GP practice, with George Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli securing P3 and P4 respectively.
Another notable performance came from Haas’s Oliver Bearman, who impressed by finishing fifth despite an off-track excursion, marking a strong session for the American team and a promising weekend ahead.
Red Bull’s performance was somewhat less dominant than expected, with Max Verstappen managing only sixth place, narrowly ahead of Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson who claimed a solid seventh.
Meanwhile, their teammates Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda could only manage 13 and 14th, respectively, with Red Bull’s poor form prompting speculation over their aerodynamic setup and tyre management, especially given the unique demands of the Baku street circuit.
Haas’ Esteban Ocon, Williams’ Alex Albon, and Norris completed the top ten.
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