The Formula 1 race in Azerbaijan could be a close affair again. In training, a Ferrari driver is the fastest.
Monza winner Charles Leclerc can also hope for success at the Formula 1 guest appearance in Baku. After an accident at the start, the Ferrari driver still managed to set the best time on the first day of training in Azerbaijan. Last year’s winner Sergio Pérez in the Red Bull came in second, just six thousandths of a second behind, ahead of Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton.
World champion Max Verstappen had to settle for sixth place in the daily standings. The Red Bull driver has been waiting for another victory for six races.
In the first practice session, the 26-year-old world championship leader drove the fastest lap. However, there were three interruptions due to accidents and debris on the track. Just a few minutes after the start of the practice laps, the race management turned the lights back to red because car parts were lying on the track.
Shortly afterwards, Leclerc crashed his Ferrari into the track barrier and was unable to continue. The third forced break followed when Williams youngster Franco Colapinto lost control of his car and had the next accident.
McLaren can take the lead in the World Championship
The second training session was accident-free. Because the teams focused on race preparation and experimented with different tires and fuel quantities, the results are only partially meaningful.
Before the 17th of 24 races of the season on Sunday (1 p.m./RTL and Sky), the Dutchman Verstappen leads the World Championship with a 62-point lead over the British McLaren driver Lando Norris. In the constructors’ championship, McLaren could already take the lead in Azerbaijan. The traditional British team is eight points behind defending champion Red Bull.
Source: Stern
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