Two weeks after Monza, Formula 1 headed to Azerbaijan with the Baku street circuit. The opportunity for Gaetan Winemaker to look back at the highlights of this Friday with two very different free practice sessions.
“In P1, three red flags. First to evacuate a piece of metal on the track, then the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc into the wall at turn 15, a straight ahead for the Monegasque. And then the young Colapintoa youthful mistake, will crash his Williams at turn number 4. Engine problem for Esteban Ocon. Verstappen Hamilton, Pereza disrupted session, too little representative running, times achieved at different times on a track which is changing“, recalls Gaëtant Vigneron.
Our F1 specialist then looks back at the second session of the day, which was much less hectic and which allowed us to draw the first lessons: “In P2, Charles Leclerc, after problems with the steering wheel and the steering system, reverses the trend, 6 thousandths ahead Perezhimself well ahead of Verstappen, only 6th, and 66 thousandths ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Engine problem for Russell who had to change his power unit. Good report card for the two rookies: Bearman 10e, Colapinto 14e“.
However, several questions still hang over the paddock and the course of this weekend promises surprises: “Will Ferrari be able to ride the Monza wave? Will Mercedes be able to get back into the form they were in before the summer break? What about McLaren, which is a little behind today? Plates 5th and Norris only 17th who did not do a timed lap after being hindered in his first lap by Pierre Gasly. And then there’s Red Bull, much better here. It’s true on a circuit that exposes the RB20’s weaknesses less. But we worked a lot at the factory, analyzed the data to try to improve the situation among the world champions. Horner told us that we might still have to wait for Austin to know more. The moral of all this is that a qualifying session promises to be exciting.“.
The qualifications will be followed this Saturday on Tipik at 1:55 p.m.
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F1 Baku: A Chaotic Friday Sets the Stage for an Unpredictable Weekend
As Formula 1 descends upon the Baku street circuit in Azerbaijan, the highly anticipated second half of the season is off to a thrilling start. Friday’s free practice sessions proved to be a rollercoaster ride of red flags, mechanical issues, and unexpected performances. Our F1 specialist, Gaëtan Vigneron, takes us through the highs and lows of an eventful day that has left fans eagerly anticipating the drama that’s yet to unfold.
P1: Red Flags and Mechanical Woes
The first free practice session was marred by not one, not two, but three red flags. The session started with a piece of metal debris on the track, which was swiftly followed by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari crashing into the wall at turn 15. The Monegasque driver was lucky to escape unscathed, but his car suffered significant damage. The young Colapinto’s inexperience showed as he crashed his Williams at turn 4, while Esteban Ocon’s engine problem added to the list of disruptions.
As a result, the times set during this session were hardly representative, with drivers navigating the changing track conditions at different times. Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Sergio Perez were among the top performers, but it was clear that this session would not provide a clear indication of the pecking order.
P2: A More Representative Session
The second session of the day proved to be much more subdued, with fewer interruptions and more consistent running. Charles Leclerc bounced back from his earlier issues, topping the timesheets with a mere 0.006s advantage over Perez. Verstappen slumped to 6th place, while Lewis Hamilton trailed behind, 0.066s off the pace. Russell’s engine problems forced him to switch to a new power unit, while the two rookies, Bearman and Colapinto, impressed with their 10th and 14th place finishes, respectively.
Unanswered Questions and Unpredictable Outcomes
As the paddock heads into the weekend, several questions remain unanswered. Can Ferrari capitalize on their Monza momentum to challenge for the top spot? Will Mercedes be able to regain their pre-summer break form? And what about McLaren, which seems to be lagging behind the top three teams?
The Baku street circuit is notorious for its high-speed straights and challenging corners, making it a perfect recipe for surprises. With the likes of Verstappen, Hamilton, and Leclerc vying for supremacy, fans can expect an thrilling qualifying session on Saturday and an electrifying race on Sunday.
Stay tuned for more updates from the F1 Baku Grand Prix, as the drama unfolds in the Land of Fire.
Keywords: Formula 1, Baku, Azerbaijan, Gaëtan Vigneron, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez, Mercedes, McLaren, F1 Baku Grand Prix, Baku street circuit.
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Image 1: Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari after crashing into the wall at turn 15 (alt text: ”Leclerc’s Ferrari after turn 15 crash”)
Image 2: Max Verstappen in action during P2 (alt text: “Verstappen in action during P2”)
* Image 3: The Baku street circuit (alt text: “The Baku street circuit”)
F1 Baku: A Chaotic Friday Sets the Stage for an Unpredictable Weekend
The Formula 1 season has entered its second half, and the excitement is palpable. After a thrilling Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the paddock shifted its attention to the Baku street circuit in Azerbaijan, where the world’s best drivers and teams gathered for another electrifying weekend of racing. Friday’s free practice sessions lived up to the hype, with two chaotic and unpredictable sessions that set the tone for an unforgettable weekend.
Red Flags and Mechanical Issues Galore in P1
The first free practice session was marred by three red flags, which significantly disrupted the proceedings. The session started with a piece of metal debris on the track, forcing the marshals to intervene and clear the circuit. Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari then made contact with the wall at turn 15, prompting another red flag. The young Argentine driver, Colapinto, suffered a rookie mistake, crashing his Williams at turn 4. To make matters worse, Esteban Ocon’s engine problem added to the chaos.
Amidst the disruptions, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Sergio Perez managed toclock some laps, but the times were achieved at different stages of the session, rendering them less representative of the teams’ true pace. Our F1 specialist, Gaëtan Vigneron, aptly summed up the session: “In P1, three red flags. First to evacuate a piece of metal on the track, then the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc into the wall at turn 15, a straight ahead for the Monegasque. And then the young Colapinto a youthful mistake, will crash his Williams at turn number 4. Engine problem for Esteban Ocon. Verstappen Hamilton, Perez a disrupted session, too little representative running, times achieved at different times on a track which is changing.”
Leclerc Bounces Back in P2
The second free practice session was much more subdued, with fewer incidents and more meaningful running. Charles Leclerc, who had steering wheel and steering system issues in P1, turned the tables to top the timesheets, just 0.006 seconds ahead of Sergio Perez. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen could only muster sixth place, 0.066 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton. George Russell’s engine problem forced him to change his power unit, while the rookie duo of Bearman and Colapinto impressed with 10th and 14th place finishes, respectively.
Unanswered Questions Ahead of Qualifying
Despite the drama and excitement of Friday’s free practice sessions, several questions still linger in the paddock. Can Ferrari maintain the momentum they built at Monza? Will Mercedes bounce back to their pre-summer break form? How will McLaren respond to their lackluster performance so far? The uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s pace also remains, with Christian Horner hinting that the team might need to wait until Austin to fully understand their situation.
Gaëtan Vigneron perfectly encapsulated the mood in the paddock: “Will Ferrari be able to ride the Monza wave? Will Mercedes be able to get back into the form they were in before the summer break? What about McLaren, which is a little behind today? Plates 5th and Norris only 17th who did not do a timed lap after being hindered in his first lap by Pierre Gasly. And then there’s Red Bull, much better here. It’s true on a circuit that exposes the RB20’s weaknesses less. But we worked a lot at the factory, analyzed the data to try to improve the situation among the world champions. Horner told us that we might still have to wait for Austin to know more. The moral of all this is that a qualifying session promises to be exciting.”
Qualifying Awaits
With so many questions still unanswered, Saturday’s qualifying session is shaping up to be a thrilling affair. Will Ferrari’s dominance continue? Can Mercedes and Red Bull rediscover their mojo? Will the McLaren resurgence materialize? The answers will emerge at 1:55 p.m. on Saturday, when the drivers take to the Baku street circuit for the all-important qualifying session.
PAA (People Also Ask) Related Questions
What happened in the first free practice session at Baku?
Who was involved in incidents during P1?
How did Charles Leclerc perform in the second free practice session?
What are the unanswered questions ahead of qualifying at Baku?
* When is the qualifying session scheduled to take place?
The 2022 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and thrilling in recent memory. With the Azerbaijan Grand Prix just around the corner, the world of F1 is bracing itself for another unforgettable weekend of racing.
