The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has gained it’s reputation in a few short years as one of the most unpredictable Grand Prix events on the F1 calendar. This year was no exception and the unpredictability started from Free Practice 1.

Free Practice 1

The session ended as quickly as it began as a loose manhole cover, that was dislodged by Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, at the exit of T3 caused substantial damage to George Russell’s Williams. There were only two times on the board before the session was halted. Both Ferrari’s managed to set times early in the session before Russell caused the red flag. The fun, however, did not stop there. While marshals were extracting the damaged Williams, the crane on the flatbed hit a low bridge and as a result the hydraulic fluid from the crane leaked onto the Williams.

Race control then took the decision to call off the session in order to inspect all the manhole covers around the circuit.

It was later revealed that Russell would need a new chassis and that meant that he would have to sit out Free Practice 2 which started at the scheduled time.

Free Practice 2

Kind of picking up where they left off in FP1 Ferrari were on top of the time sheets at the end of FP2.

Teams were keen to head out in FP2 after the cancellation of the first practice session in the morning. Ferrari wasted no time in getting to the top of the time sheets with Charles Leclerc who set a session best time of 1:42.672. Team mate Sebastian Vettel was 0.324s off the pace with a session best time of 1:43.196.

The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton trailed a further 0.669s off Leclerc’s benchmark finishing the session 3rd fastest ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in 4th. Team mate to Hamilton, Valteri Bottas could only manage 5th fastest in the session just a touch over a second off the pace. Bottas initially struggled for grip at the beginning of the session locking up and taking to the run-off areas.

Finishing the session 6th fastest on his 25th birthday was Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso. While it would’ve been a nice birthday present for the Russian had it not been for his crash at the exit of Turn 7 in the final 20mins of the session. Putting a bitter-sweet end to his birthday no doubt.

20 minutes to go in FP2

But that’s @kvyatofficial done for the day 😐#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/OdL9779pnT

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 26, 2019

7th Fastest in the Renault powered Mclaren was Carlos Sainz ahead of Alexander Albon in the second Toro Rosso who was 8th fastest.

Pierre Gasly in the second Red Bull finished 9th fastest with the second Mclaren of Lando Norris rounding out the top 10.

The session was filled with the usual Baku Circuit follies with many drivers overshooting their braking spots or locking up and taking to the escape roads. A massive lockup in particular for Daniel Ricciardo in the Renault saw him sitting out the final 40mins of the session. The Australian had a massive lock-up into Turn 15 and the resulting flat spot put him out of the session. Not to mention his brakes catching fire as well. Ricciardo ended the session 15th fastest.

The bad day for Renault got worse and team mate Nico Hulkenberg also complained about lock-ups on his loaded wheels. Hulkenberg ended the session down in P17.

Kvyat was not the only driver to make contact with the barriers in the session. Racing Point’s Lance Stroll had a lock up into Turn 2 and hesitated a bit in deciding to take the corner or take the escape road. He ended up doing the latter but it was a few meters too late and made contact with the barrier breaking his front left suspension and front wing. Racing Point got the car back and repaired the car to get the Canadian back out on track for the final 5-minutes.

After a severely shortened FP1, the drivers were itching to get out in FP2

And it was @ScuderiaFerrari who came out on top in Baku ⏱️#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/NvD52nsFgY

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 26, 2019