Charles Leclerc pipped Sergio Perez in a good second follow session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as title contenders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have been off the tempo.
Leclerc was the final driver to do his qualifying simulation and benefited barely from the quicker observe circumstances to edge out Perez by 0.006s, with Lewis Hamilton in third at solely 0.066s behind the Ferrari driver.
Championship chief Max Verstappen was solely sixth and 0.545s adrift of Leclerc and Norris did not full a quick lap on the softs on account of visitors.
Verstappen holds a 62-point lead over Norris with eight occasions remaining and Perez’s velocity suggests they need to be extra aggressive this weekend in comparison with latest races.
However Perez was happier with the automotive on Friday in Baku as Verstappen complained about understeer and almost hit the wall with a lock up at Flip 5.
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Karun Chandhok and Jacques Villeneuve focus on McLaren’s option to prioritise Lando Norris within the latter half of the 2024 F1 season, saying the directions nonetheless will not be clear sufficient and that the crew have left it ‘too late’.
As for Norris, he was heading in the right direction to be simply forward of Verstappen in second follow however got here throughout Pierre Gasly on the flat-out closing sweeping corners.
Gasly tried to get out of the best way on account of a battery challenge however compelled Norris to again out in a scary second for each drivers.
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Christian Horner responds to questions on if Adrian Newey is much less of a risk at Aston Martin and compares his exit to Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo’s at Manchester United.
The McLaren driver would have been someplace round Carlos Sainz in fourth, Oscar Piastri in fifth and Verstappen in sixth, with all three drivers half a second behind pace-setter Leclerc.
As a substitute, Norris ended up down in seventeenth and will likely be hoping McLaren can discover time in a single day forward of ultimate follow at 9.30am on Saturday, which is adopted by qualifying at 1pm, stay on Sky Sports activities F1.
Too near name in Baku
The shut battle on Friday is a continuation of F1’s extraordinarily aggressive races through the European leg of the season, with six completely different winners within the final seven Grands Prix.
Hamilton regarded the higher of the 2 Mercedes within the second session, regardless of a scorching seat, which was additionally a difficulty in Monza.
The seven-time world champion has admitted to struggling in Qualifying however will likely be buoyed by his sturdy tempo on Friday on a observe the place one-lap tempo is necessary.
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Lewis Hamilton seems to be forward optimistically to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, regardless of disappointing outcomes there with Mercedes previously.
“It’s not just Leclerc and Perez, for Lewis it was also a great day,” stated Sky Sports activities F1’s Karun Chandhok.
“It underlines what we’ve been saying all day, the top four cars are in this fight.
“It should be unbelievably shut. I feel Qualifying goes to be completely sensational.”
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Sky Sports activities’ Karun Chandhok takes a take a look at Charles Leclerc’s pole lap from final yr’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Elsewhere, Oliver Bearman was tenth behind George Russell and Haas team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in second follow.
Bearman, 19, is in Kevin Magnussen’s seat this weekend’s because the Dane is banned on account of hitting the restrict for penalty factors. Magnussen will return in Singapore subsequent week.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was seventh and Fernando Alonso was twelfth, with a number of drivers taking journeys down the Baku Metropolis Circuit run-off space however managing to keep away from the wall, in contrast to Leclerc and Franco Colapinto in first follow.
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay Azerbaijan GP schedule
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Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments to have taken place across the Baku Metropolis Circuit.
Saturday September 14
9.15am: Azerbaijan GP Follow Three (session begins 9.30am)
11.10am: F2 Dash
12.15pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up
1pm: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING*
3pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday September 15
8.30am: F2 Function Race
10:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12pm: The AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP response
3pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally stay on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion
Components 1 leaves mainland Europe for Baku and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
