F1 returns after a one-week break this weekend as Baku hosts the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and round 17 of the 2024 season.
Charles Leclerc secured a famous victory for Ferrari at Monza last time out, ahead of the quick McLaren pairing of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. British driver Norris now trails Max Verstappen – who could only finish sixth in Italy – by 62 points in the world championship with eight races to go.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez won the last race in Baku last April, while the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will be eyeing a return to form as well on the popular street circuit by the Caspian Sea.
It has already been an eventful week in F1, with Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey announcing his move to Aston Martin for next year in a massive statement of intent, turning down Ferrari in the process.
Follow live updates from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with The Independent
Baku hosts round 17 of the 2024 F1 season
Second practice is at 2pm (BST)
Max Verstappen was quickest in FP1; Hamilton 2nd; Perez 3rd
CRASH! Charles Leclerc hits the wall in first practice
Max Verstappen has a 62-point lead to Lando Norris with eight races to go
11:36 , Kieran Jackson
With the final timed lap, Max Verstappen goes quickest with a 1:45:546, 0.313 secs quicker than Lewis Hamilton!
Sergio Perez is in third, 0.376 secs down on his team-mate, in a good session for Red Bull!
4-10: Norris, Sainz, piastri, Alonso, Russell, Leclerc, Ricciardo
An action-packed session!
11:29 , Kieran Jackson
He was quicker than Hamilton in the first two sectors but the final straight has let him down – he goes second, 0.036 secs slower than Hamilton!
3-10: Norris, Sainz, Perez, Piastri, Alonso, Russell, Leclerc, Ricciardo
Just 2 minutes left…
11:22 , Kieran Jackson
The Williams removed… and with 10 minutes left there is a mad rush coming out of the pit lane!
Lewis Hamilton is now top of the timesheet on soft tyres with a 1:45:859, 0.168 secs quicker than Lando Norris in second with Oscar Piastri in third.
4-10: Perez, Leclerc, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Bearman, Hulkenberg, Sainz
11:13 , Kieran Jackson
Another crash – this time it’s Franco Colapinto!
The Williams is in the wall – and there’s a fair bit of damage!
He just lost the rear of the car going around the right-hand turn! Not ideal, given he replaced the crash-heavy Logan Sargeant!
Session stops AGAIN with 20 minutes left…
11:08 , Kieran Jackson
Leclerc out of the session then but with the stricken Ferrari removed from the track, we’re back underway with 25 minutes left!
Top-5: Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris, Russell, Hamilton
10:58 , Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc has crashed into the wall at turn 15!
A nightmare for the Ferrari driver, who is top of the timesheets but is now out of the session!
He’s OK though and walks away unharmed! He missed the apex and then locked up into the wall!
“I took the dirt on the outside.”
10:53 , Kieran Jackson
The Alpine driver has a problem with his car – “no power” he says – but he is able to get the car back to the pit lane!
Meanwhile, that piece of metal we believe came off Colapinto’s Williams. Anyway, back to the action…
10:51 , Kieran Jackson
Indeed, we’re back going in no time at all – and 15 cars are straight out on track with 40 minutes left in Baku!
10:46 , Kieran Jackson
So I think it’s a piece of lead or metal that was out on track, with a marshal quickly sprinting on to remove it!
Bit bizarre. I imagine it shouldn’t be too long until we get back going…
10:44 , Kieran Jackson
So the session has stopped with 47 minutes left in the session… and we have no idea why!
Nobody has crashed, so perhaps it’s a drain cover issue (remember them?!) – but nobody has a clue right now!
Nevertheless, all the cars head into the pit lane…
10:42 , Kieran Jackson
“This is not a car right now, not a car right now.”
The Aston Martin driver not happy at this early stage!
10:38 , Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc quickest with a 1:48:340 early on, with all the drivers on medium tyres at this stage! Verstappen 2nd, Ricciardo 3rd.
Sergio Perez, meanwhile, has received a black and white flag from the stewards for crossing the white line on pit entry! Nothing to worry about too much in practice…
10:33 , Kieran Jackson
“Track is very very low grip.”
It’s very dusty in Baku!
All the drivers aside from Williams’ Franco Colapinto are out on track straight away!
10:29 , Kieran Jackson
Here we go then! Under the beaming sun in Azerbaijan, on this tight and twisty street circuit, it’s time for free practice 1!
The first hour of practice for the drivers to get in tune with their cars in Baku!
And the first man out on track is the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll!
10:23 , Kieran Jackson
The British 19-year-old – who becomes a permanent Haas driver next year – replaces the banned Kevin Magnussen for Haas this weekend in Baku!
It’s his second race appearance of the season after his standout performance for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia back in March, a drive which effectively secured his F1 seat!
How will he get on this weekend in Baku, a venue where he won in F2 last year?
10:21 , Kieran Jackson
Red Bull are the only team with upgrades this weekend, with a new floor.
Mercedes, on the other hand, have got rid of their floor brought in for Spa just before the summer break, in an attempt to get back to the top!
10:13 , Kieran Jackson
“That is something maybe for the future that I think about, but not now,” Verstappen said, despite having a contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season.
“It (Newey’s departure) is fine, Adrian and I have a very good understanding. I sent him a message after the news came out so I am happy for him.
“I always said I would have loved him to stay but you cannot overturn these things. I am just excited for people seeking new challenges. I know Lawrence (Stroll) is pushing flat out to make it a success at Aston Martin.”
10:08 , Kieran Jackson
When Adrian Newey stunned the Formula One paddock by announcing his departure from the all-conquering Red Bull in May, there seemed only one appropriate destination for the legendary designer’s swansong. Sky F1 broadcaster Martin Brundle hinted as much when he asked Newey in Miami: “Do you look good in red?!”
Now we know the answer: not good enough, it seems.
Full piece below:
Adrian Newey snubbed Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari for Aston Martin – here’s why
10:02 , Kieran Jackson
Just an eight point gap at the top!
1. Red Bull – 446 points
2. McLaren – 438 points
3. Ferrari – 407 points
4. Mercedes – 292 points
5. Aston Martin – 74 points
6. RB – 34 points
7. Haas – 28 points
8. Alpine – 13 points
9. Williams – 6 points
10. Sauber – 0 points
09:51 , Kieran Jackson
Asked ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix whether he was disappointed that Newey will not be joining the Scuderia, Hamilton replied: “Honestly, no.
“While I have said before that it would be an honour to work with Adrian, I have been part of two championship-winning teams that didn’t have Adrian.
“I think any team would have been happy to have him. At the end of the day he had to do what is right for him. It doesn’t change my goal or my focus for my next move. I still believe 100 per cent that there is lots we can do.”
09:48 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen – 303 points
2. Lando Norris – 241 points
3. Charles Leclerc – 217 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 197 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 184 points
6. Lewis Hamilton – 164 points
7. Sergio Perez – 143 points
8. George Russell – 128 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 50 points
10. Lance Stroll – 24 points
11. Nico Hulkenberg – 22 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points
13. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
14. Pierre Gasly – 8 points
15. Oliver Bearman – 6 points
16. Kevin Magnussen – 6 points
17. Alex Albon – 6 points
18. Esteban Ocon – 5 points
19. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
20. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
21. Franco Colapinto – 0 points
22. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
09:44 , Kieran Jackson
Friday 13 September
Free practice 1: 10:30am
Free practice 2: 2pm
Saturday 14 September
Free practice 3: 9:30am
Qualifying: 1pm
Sunday 15 September
09:41 , Kieran Jackson
Good morning! F1 is back this weekend as we head to the shores of the Caspian Sea and the entertaining Baku Street Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix!
It’s already been an eventful week in the sport, what with Adrian Newey’s move to Aston Martin!
So, what will the action on track bring today? Practice gets underway at 10:30am (BST)!
