Home F1 Azerbaijan GP: Verstappen tops FP1 amid three red flag stoppages

Azerbaijan GP, F1, Max Verstappen — BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 13: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 13, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202409130435 // Usage for editorial use only //

Azerbaijan GP: Verstappen tops FP1 amid three red flag stoppages

13/09/2024

Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton in FP1 of F1 Azerbaijan GP weekend which saw multiple red flags, as Lando Norris was third.

The track was greasy after some rain to start FP1 of F1 Azerbaijan GP at Baku Street Circuit. There was lack of grip and lap times slower than 2023 but continued to improve, even after chequered flag when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen improved.

He missed out on the previous lap to demote Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, but managed to put in a 1m45.546s lap to go fastest in FP1 of F1 Azerbaijan GP. Teammate Sergio Perez too improved on the final lap to be third from McLaren’s Lando Norris.

The sole remaining Ferrari of Carlos Sainz was bunched between the two McLaren cars, with Oscar Piastri in sixth. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso found himself in seventh, when teammate Lance Stroll had string of complaints on radio about lack of balance.

Mercedes’ George Russell was eighth from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who crashed out at Turn 15 after a off-line moment to cause a red flag but still managed to retain ninth position on the medium tyres. Teammate Sainz had an early moment at Turn 17.

Visa Cash RB’s Daniel Ricciardo rounded out the Top 10. Kevin Magnussen’s substitute Oliver Bearman showed good pace in the Haas to be 11th from teammate Nico Hulkenberg, with Stroll in 13th ahead of Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn was one of the cars to go off at Turn 1 along with Hamilton and Russell. Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was 15th from Williams’ Franco Colapinto, who crashed out at Turn 4 to cause a red flag. He lost his rear going into the corner and clouted the wall.

But the Argentine was ahead of his teammate Alexander Albon still, who was 17th. He had his own Turn 4 moment. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly ended up 18th on the medium tyre, as teammate Esteban Ocon did not run due to power unit issue.

Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu ended up 19th. Apart from the two red flags for Leclerc and Colapinto, there was a third one for marshals to clear a minor piece of debris early on.