Max seventh after first free practice in Baku

Published on 19 September 2025 by Misha van der Kroon

Max Verstappen finished the first free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in seventh place. In the chaotic session, where almost half of the running was lost due to track inspections, the Dutchman was unable to improve in the closing stages. Lando Norris ended the session as fastest, with teammate Oscar Piastri in P2 and Charles Leclerc in P3. George Russell and Alexander Albon completed the top five in Baku.

At the start of first free practice in Baku, the air temperature is 25 degrees with the track temperature at 32 degrees. George Russell, who reported sick during Thursday’s media day, gets behind the wheel today despite not feeling completely fit. All drivers begin the session on the soft tyre. Gabriel Bortoleto quickly brings out the first yellow flag after going straight on, and it proves to be only the start: several more brief yellow flags will follow.

Max sets a 1:46.121 on his first flying lap, putting him temporarily on P1. But as the track evolves, he is soon overtaken by Norris, Russell and Leclerc. McLaren calls Norris back to the garage to remove a part from the car, while teammate Piastri returns to the pits and steps out so the mechanics can check his car for a suspected engine issue.

Piastri is not the only one losing track time, as the red flag is waved shortly afterwards. Initially, it is thought that a piece of carbon is lying on the track, but it turns out to be a chunk of rubber under a kerbstone, dislodged by Carlos Sainz. A few minutes later, the session resumes, only to be interrupted almost immediately again by a yellow flag: a marshal is seen jumping on the kerbstone to press it back into place.

After a long delay for track checks, the green flag is shown with twenty minutes remaining. Good news for Piastri: his problem appears solved and he rejoins the action. All drivers head back out on their used softs and the lap times drop significantly. Verstappen clocks a 1:43.790, only 0.043s behind Norris. The Brit, however, pushes harder and extends his lead to over a second.

Lewis Hamilton brushes the wall, sustaining a puncture and front wing damage, but he manages to bring his Ferrari safely back to the pits. Alexander Albon also touches the wall, but escapes damage, as does Piastri. In the meantime, Verstappen slips back to sixth, behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda. With only a few minutes left, Max looks set to improve, but he goes straight on at Turn 15 and has to abort his lap.

Because of the large amount of lost track time, there is plenty of action right until the final seconds. As the clock hits zero, Verstappen is again on a push lap, but he abandons this lap as well. The Dutchman ends the session in seventh place. Norris is quickest, followed by Piastri and Leclerc, with Russell and Albon completing the top five in Baku.

Contest GP Azerbaijan: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results first free practice Azerbaijan: