Hamilton Sets the Pace in Baku FP2

The first practice session in Baku was extended after being interrupted for nearly twenty minutes due to problems with the kerbs. As a result, the teams were unable to complete their full programs and shifted part of the workload to the next session.

By the second practice, track conditions had improved, and the number of incidents decreased.Lawson, Hamilton, and Bearman ran off into the escape areas, while Leclerc made light contact with the wall several times without serious consequences. Norris, however, damaged his suspension after hitting the barrier at Turn 4, suffered a puncture, and did not return to the track. Later, Piastri, Colapinto, Russell, and Sainz also brushed the walls minor mistakes that most drivers were not able to avoid.

The drivers tested all three slick compounds, but the new softest C6 played the key role. Although it degraded quickly, it provided the best grip, allowing lap times to improve significantly. By the second session, the leaders were already lapping faster than last year’s pole.

Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets with a lap of 1:41.293, just seven hundredths ahead of his teammate. Ferrari, meanwhile, has claimed pole position in Baku for the past four years in a row but is still chasing its first victory on this circuit.