Hamilton Leads Ferrari 1-2 in Dramatic Azerbaijan GP FP2

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc secured a Ferrari 1-2 in a dramatic Free Practice 2 session for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a session marred by multiple wall brushes and yellow flags. The notoriously challenging Baku City Circuit lived up to its reputation, catching out several drivers, most notably McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both of whom sustained significant damage.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's strong performance, with Hamilton topping the timesheets and Leclerc close behind, suggests a potential resurgence for the Scuderia on a street circuit known for rewarding both power and precision. However, the high number of incidents, particularly for prominent drivers like Norris and Piastri, underscores the fine margins and unforgiving nature of Baku, indicating that qualifying and the race itself will likely be fraught with action.

The details:

• Ferrari's Pace: Lewis Hamilton led FP2 with a lap of 1:41.293, followed closely by teammate Charles Leclerc, just 0.074 seconds adrift. This marks a strong showing for Ferrari, potentially indicating good car balance and power unit performance on the long straights and tight corners of Baku.
• Mercedes in Pursuit: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli placed 3rd and 4th respectively, maintaining Mercedes' consistent presence at the front, albeit half a second behind Hamilton.
• Incidents Galore: The session was repeatedly interrupted by yellow flags due to cars brushing or hitting the walls.
  • Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc were among the first to have close encounters with the barriers early in the session.
  • Lando Norris sustained significant suspension damage after a hard hit into the barrier, forcing him to crawl back to the pits.
  • Shortly after Norris's incident, teammate Oscar Piastri also made contact with the wall, damaging both the front and rear of his McLaren.
• Next-Gen Talent: Young drivers Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Oliver Bearman (Haas), and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) showed promising pace, finishing in the top 7, highlighting the depth of talent emerging in F1.

The Big Picture:

The Baku City Circuit is famed for its high-speed straights intertwined with incredibly narrow, technical sections, creating a unique challenge that often leads to unexpected results and plenty of incidents. The high-risk, high-reward nature of this track means that while raw pace is important, driver precision and car reliability are paramount. The number of incidents in FP2 indicates that teams are pushing the limits, setting the stage for an unpredictable qualifying session and race where even a small mistake can have major consequences.

What's next:

Teams will now analyze the data from FP2 to fine-tune their setups for Saturday's Free Practice 3 and the crucial Qualifying session. The focus will be on optimizing car balance for both the high-speed sections and the technical inner city parts, while also addressing any lingering reliability concerns. Given the number of incidents, managing track limits and avoiding further damage will be key priorities for all drivers and teams as they prepare for the all-important qualifying battle.