Report & Results First Free Practice 2024 Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix
Event: Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix
Track: Baku street circuit
Weather: dry 28.9°C
Tarmac: dry 40.5°C
Humidity: 48%
Wind: 5.0 m/s South
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024: Verstappen Tops Disrupted FP1 as Crashes Halt Action
The 2024 Formula 1 season reached the challenging streets of Baku for Round 17, with a dramatic opening practice session ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Max Verstappen claimed the top spot, but the session was heavily disrupted by red flags due to multiple incidents on track.
Verstappen Quickest in Chaotic Session
Max Verstappen set the pace during FP1, posting a fastest lap of 1:45.546. The Red Bull driver finished three-tenths ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, while Sergio Perez secured third. Despite the result, it was far from a straightforward session, as the tricky Baku street circuit saw several interruptions.
Hamilton momentarily topped the timesheets with a lap of 1:45.859, but Verstappen responded with a late flyer to snatch P1. This session showcased the competitiveness of the top teams, with McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari all featuring in the top four positions.
Crashes and Red Flags Dominate
Charles Leclerc triggered one of three red flags when he crashed into the barriers at Turn 15. The Ferrari driver, who has been on pole here for the last three years, carried too much speed into the corner, damaging his front wing. Fortunately, Leclerc walked away from the incident unharmed, though Ferrari will have repairs to make before the second practice session.
Williams’ Franco Colapinto also found himself in the walls at Turn 4. Colapinto lost the rear end of his car and slid sideways into the barriers, bringing out another red flag. Like Leclerc, Colapinto apologized over the radio to his team as he climbed out of the car, leaving Williams with a hefty rebuild job before FP2.
Adding to the disruption, Esteban Ocon’s session was cut short due to a power unit issue with his Alpine. The Frenchman managed to coast back to the pits but did not set a timed lap, leaving Alpine with work to do ahead of the afternoon session.
Bearman Steps in for Magnussen at Haas
In a notable driver change, Oliver Bearman is racing for Haas this weekend, filling in for the suspended Kevin Magnussen. Magnussen received a one-race ban after accumulating 12 penalty points following the previous round at Monza. Bearman, the young British driver, adapted well to his Haas car, finishing in the top ten during FP1, despite the challenging conditions.
Teams Face Challenges Ahead of FP2
The teams now face a race against time to prepare their cars for FP2, which begins at 17:00 local time. Ferrari, Alpine, and Williams all have repairs to make, while others will be working to extract more pace from their setups. The disrupted session means that crucial data collection was limited, leaving teams with much to learn as they head into qualifying.
With three teams in the hunt for pole position and a track prone to incidents, the excitement is building for what promises to be a thrilling weekend of racing in Baku.
The quickest sector times during this FP1 were:
- Sector 1: 37.434 sec. by Max Verstappen, Red Bull RB20.
- Sector 2: 42.577 sec. by Max Verstappen, Red Bull RB20.
- Sector 3: 25.008 sec. by Fernando Aloonso, Aston Martin AMR23.
Last year the quickest lap time during FP1 was a 1:42.315 min, driven by Max Verstappen with the Red Bull.
FP1 Times Table 2024 Azerbaijan GP
| P | No | Driver | Team | Time | 1st Gap | Laps | Tyres |
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:45,546 | 21 | S | |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:45,859 | +0,313s | 19 | S |
| 3 | 11 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | 1:45,859 | +0,313s | 17 | S |
| 4 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:46,027 | +0,481s | 18 | S |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:46,173 | +0,627s | 21 | S |
| 6 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:46,282 | +0,736s | 18 | S |
| 7 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:46,452 | +0,906s | 19 | S |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:46,516 | +0,970s | 18 | S |
| 9 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:46,608 | +1,062s | 11 | M |
| 10 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Racing Bulls | 1:46,687 | +1,141s | 23 | S |
| 11 | 40 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:46,973 | +1,427s | 23 | S |
| 12 | 50 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:47,135 | +1,589s | 20 | S |
| 13 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas | 1:47,184 | +1,638s | 15 | S |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:47,640 | +2,094s | 18 | S |
| 15 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 1:47,708 | +2,162s | 21 | S |
| 16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1:47,901 | +2,355s | 12 | S |
| 17 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Williams | 1:47,955 | +2,409s | 17 | S |
| 18 | 23 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:48,712 | +3,166s | 21 | M |
| 19 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 1:49,052 | +3,506s | 19 | S |
| 20 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | no time | - | 3 | H |
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Colapinto's error shows that making definitive conclusions based on a single GP, especially when Monza is the location in question, is always unworthy.