F1, Azerbaijan free practice: Hamilton and Leclerc shine but Vasseur urges caution
After a first session without any particular highlights, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc took center stage in the second timed session of the veenrday in Baku, on the track that will host the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday. The Briton finished with the best overall time, 1:41.293, 74 thousandths better than the Monegasque.
Between second and third place (occupied by George Russell in a Mercedes) are a good four tenths, far behind the McLarens of Lando Norris, tenth at 906 thousandths, and Oscar Piastri, twelfth at one second and two thousandths. Despite the positive session, Rossa team principal Frederic Vasseur preferred to put a brake on easy enthusiasms.
“The session went well but we must not get lost in dreams – said the French engineer -I am convinced that the group will be very close, the race simulation was positive but we don’t know how much fuel the other cars had on the track. To think that it will all be easy would lead to a negative result, no doubt”.
As for the other times, of note was the fourth position of Kimi Antonelli in a Mercedes, with a personal best time 486 thousandths slower than Hamilton’s. Sixth position instead for Max Verstappen on Red Bull (+0.609), behind a more than positive Ollie Bearman, who confirms himself at ease with the Haas (+0.598).
