Azerbaijan GP – FP2: Ferrari steps up as Hamilton tops FP2

Ferrari stamped its authority on second practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton narrowly ahead of Charles Leclerc at the top of the timesheets.

On the treacherous streets of Baku, the Scuderia’s consistency set the pair apart as many rivals faltered in the tricky conditions.

Hamilton’s 1m41.543s on medium tyres initially topped Leclerc’s early benchmark on softs, already a second quicker than FP1. The duel between Ferrari’s pair hinted at an intriguing qualifying battle to come, with teams still undecided between Pirelli’s C5 and C6 compounds.

• Azerbaijan Grand Prix Free Practice 2 - Results

After the mid-session lull, the track grew busier again. Leclerc fired in a 1m41.367s to reclaim first place, his edge coming down the long flat-out stretch to the line. But Hamilton had the final word, dipping 0.074s beneath his team-mate’s time on the softer rubber to finish the session on top.

McLaren’s bruising session

While Ferrari shone, McLaren endured a bruising hour. Lando Norris clattered the outside wall exiting Turn 4, breaking his left-rear suspension and ending his running early.

Moments later Oscar Piastri also brushed the barriers at Turn 15, though he escaped with nothing more than scuffed tyres. His reprieve may be short-lived, however, as stewards are investigating the Aussie for allegedly failing to slow under yellow flags.

The incidents reflected a broader struggle for McLaren in Baku, with Norris left only 10th and Piastri 12th. Both drivers appeared to lack confidence under braking, a costly weakness on a circuit lined with unforgiving concrete.

Mercedes and midfield contenders shine

With McLaren compromised, Mercedes moved into the top four. George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were third and fourth, around four tenths adrift of Ferrari’s benchmark. Russell also brushed the wall but avoided damage.

One of the stars of the session was Oliver Bearman, who guided his Haas to a superb fifth place at the track where he impressed on debut last year.

Max Verstappen was sixth in the leading Red Bull, while Liam Lawson placed an encouraging seventh for Racing Bulls.

Esteban Ocon backed up Bearman with eighth in the second Haas, Alex Albon was ninth for Williams, and Norris rounded out the top 10.

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