Max Verstappen topped a chaotic first practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc caused one of three red flags by crashing his Ferrari.
Verstappen’s leading time, a 1:45.546 set in the closing moments of the session, suggested Red Bull could be more competitive than in recent weeks as the Dutchman seeks to protect his 62-point lead over Lando Norris in the Drivers’ Championship.
Lewis Hamilton was second for Mercedes ahead of Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez, while Norris was fourth for McLaren.
After the session had already been paused once to allow the removal of debris from the track, Leclerc carried too much speed into Turn 15 and became the first victim of the waiting walls of the Baku City Circuit.
Less than 10 minutes after the session had resumed, Franco Colapinto, the Argentine rookie Williams have installed for the final 10 rounds of the season, showed his inexperience with a heavy shunt into the barriers at Turn 4.
The stoppages ultimately resulted in more than a third of the session being lost, limiting running and making it difficult to assess the times delivered by the front-runners.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Azerbaijan GP schedule
Friday September 13
11.55am: F2 Qualifying
1.45pm: Azerbaijan GP Practice Two (session starts 2pm)
3.15pm: The F1 Show
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place around the Baku City Circuit
Saturday September 14
9.15am: Azerbaijan GP Practice Three (session starts 9.30am)
11.10am: F2 Sprint
12.15pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up
1pm: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING*
3pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday September 15
8.30am: F2 Feature Race
10:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12pm: The AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP reaction
3pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 leaves mainland Europe for Baku and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
