Hamilton Leads Ferrari 1-2 in Baku FP2 as Norris Crashes

Lewis Hamilton secured the top spot in the second practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading a Ferrari one-two ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc. The session proved challenging for McLaren, with Lando Norris's session cut short by a crash and Oscar Piastri struggling for pace.

Why it matters:

This result puts Ferrari in a strong position heading into qualifying, signaling a potential resurgence in their performance on street circuits. For McLaren, Norris's crash is a significant setback, raising concerns about car damage and his confidence for the crucial qualifying session.

The Details:

• Early Pace Setters: Kick Sauber drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were the first on track, quickly eclipsed by Oscar Piastri on C6 Soft tyres and then Max Verstappen.
• Ferrari and Mercedes Battle: Leclerc initially moved to the top, only to be briefly outpaced by Norris. Hamilton then showed strong pace on Medium tires, setting a 1:41.543 before the qualifying simulations began.
• Norris's Crash: During the quali sims, Lando Norris lost the rear of his McLaren at Turn 4, hitting the wall with his rear left tire. This incident effectively ended his session, preventing him from further participation.
  • His teammate, Oscar Piastri, also had a moment, clipping the Tecpro barrier at Turn 15, but managed to return to the track with no significant damage.
• Hamilton's Dominance: Hamilton capitalized on a strong tow from Leclerc, posting a 1:41.293 on Softs to claim P1, noting "some good learnings" from the lap.
• Mercedes' Strong Showing: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes followed the Ferraris closely, securing third and fourth positions respectively.
• Verstappen's Performance: Max Verstappen finished in sixth place, six-tenths off the pace, indicating Red Bull may have work to do to match Ferrari and Mercedes.

The Big Picture:

Ferrari's strong showing in FP2, particularly on a demanding street circuit like Baku, hints at a competitive package for the weekend. This could be a crucial race for them to cement their title aspirations. Conversely, McLaren's struggles, especially Norris's crash, add pressure to their championship campaign, highlighting the fine margins in F1.

What's next:

The teams will now analyze their data from FP2 to prepare for FP3 and, more importantly, the critical qualifying session. All eyes will be on McLaren to see how they recover from Norris's incident and if he can find his rhythm for qualifying. Ferrari will aim to carry this momentum forward, while Red Bull and Mercedes will be pushing to close the gap.