Ferrari Baku Grand Prix: Hamilton & Leclerc Dominate, Norris Disappointed
- Lewis Hamilton put in a blistering lap to top the second free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading a remarkable 1-2 for Ferrari.The seven-time World Champion...
- The session saw Ferrari dominate, with Hamilton leading teammate Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.074 seconds.
- Behind the Ferraris, Mercedes showed promise, but with a noticeable gap.
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Hamilton Headlines Ferrari 1-2 in Azerbaijan GP FP2 - A Deep Dive
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Lewis Hamilton put in a blistering lap to top the second free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading a remarkable 1-2 for Ferrari.The seven-time World Champion clocked a 1:41.293, undercutting last year’s pole position time by 0.072 seconds. This performance marks a significant turnaround for Hamilton,who has been struggling to match the pace of Ferrari’s charles Leclerc in recent races.
What Happened in FP2?
The session saw Ferrari dominate, with Hamilton leading teammate Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.074 seconds. This one-two finish confirms the work done by the team, a surprising result given Leclerc’s historical strength at this track. Hamilton achieved his fastest time with a higher downforce wing configuration, while Leclerc opted for a trimmed setup, suggesting differing strategic approaches.
Behind the Ferraris, Mercedes showed promise, but with a noticeable gap. George Russell finished third, 0.477 seconds behind Hamilton, while rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed with a fourth-place finish, just 0.100 seconds behind Russell.Russell’s session was slightly compromised by a near-miss with the barriers, while Antonelli enjoyed a clean run.
mclaren, who had topped the timesheets in FP1, experienced a more challenging FP2.Lando Norris ended the session in tenth, and Oscar Piastri in twelfth.Norris suffered damage to his left rear suspension after hitting the barriers, curtailing his long run simulations. Interestingly, McLaren employed an unusual tactic of running fast initial sectors but aborting laps, seemingly attempting to conceal their true pace. This strategy backfired as the drivers struggled with a more slippery track surface.
The significance of Hamilton’s Lap
Hamilton’s lap time is especially noteworthy as it was achieved with a higher downforce wing. This suggests that the Mercedes W15 has genuine pace, even in configurations designed for greater stability.The fact that he beat Leclerc’s 2024 pole position time from the same track is a strong indicator of potential. Though,it’s crucial to remember that practice sessions don’t always translate directly to qualifying or race performance.
The Ferrari 1-2 is also a significant development. Leclerc’s choice of a lower downforce setup suggests confidence in the SF-24’s aerodynamic efficiency. The team’s rigorous approach, highlighted by the only minor incident involving Leclerc brushing the wall, demonstrates a focused and well-prepared operation.
Detailed Session Results
| Position | Driver | team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:41.293 |
| 2 | Charles leclerc | ferrari | 1:41.367 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:
|