Baku FP1: Everything you need to know

Max Verstappen was quickest in the opening Formula 1 practice session ahead of this Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.

---

Key moments:

> Verstappen edges Leclerc to top the session by half a tenth
> Both Mercedes go down the escape road, fail to set representative times
> Norris spins in final sector
> Perez loses almost 20 minutes stuck in the Red Bull garage
> Tsunoda gets stuck down the Turn 4 escape road
> Gasly, Sainz, Norris and Vettel also go down the escape road
> Both Haas drivers go off in final minutes of session

---

Verstappen topped the session with a 1m43.184s, just 0.043 seconds faster than Monaco GP polesitter Leclerc.

But championship leader Verstappen was left frustrated by blocking twice in the session, labelling Esteban Ocon slowing down on the exit of Turn 15 as “super dangerous” and Nikita Mazepin’s position through Turn 4 as “unbelievable”.

His Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez lost nearly 20 minutes of running after the team had to deconstruct a front wing monitoring device. He recovered to set the fourth-quickest time ahead of Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren.

AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda’s rookie season took another blow as the Japanese driver ran down the escape road at Turn 4 and failed to find reverse.

Tsunoda had to radio his team to ask how to reverse his car out of the escape road, and after several moments he found his way out.

His team-mate Pierre Gasly had a briefer trip down the Turn 15 left-hander with just over 15 minutes remaining in the session.

Gasly managed to post the sixth-fastest time, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who was unable to show the true pace of the Mercedes.

The top 10 was completed by Lando Norris (who had a spin at Turn 15), Fernando Alonso and the winner of the last F1 race in Baku, Valtteri Bottas.

Big spin for Lando Norris 😮

He ends up facing the wrong way at Turn 16 but no damage done, it seems#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/hGu5knbqmT

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 4, 2021

Both Mercedes cars had trips down the escape roads as they struggled to show complete a flying lap amid the plethora of yellow flags.

Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel survived a lock-up that sent him wide at Turn 1 but could only manage the 15th-fastest time.

Mazepin stuck his Haas into the wall on the exit of the Turn 5 left-hander after losing the rear with three minutes remaining in the session. He managed to dig himself out and returned to the pits.

His team-mate Mick Schumacher had a moment just a couple of minutes later, as he ran down the Turn 4 escape road but spent less time recovering than his fellow F1 rookie Tsunoda.

Practice 1 Results