Azerbaijan – EL2: Leclerc seeks revenge, Perez in good shape

Author of a track exit in free practice 1 which made him lose thirty minutes of driving, Charles Leclerc took his revenge by setting the fastest time in free practice 2 on Friday. The Monegasque, who only did one fast lap on the red tyres in a different sequence to the rest of the grid, dislodged Sergio Pérez by just 6 thousandths of a second while the Mexican was in the lead. Good news for the winner of the Italian Grand Prix, because he once again missed track time (around 25 minutes) after complaining of a steering problem and a possible twist in his steering rod, which required repairs.

Lewis Hamilton, already in good form in EL1, set the 3rd fastest time of the session, just 66 thousandths behind his future teammate. Behind the Englishman, the gap is quite large since Carlos Sainz is only in 4th place, half a second behind. It is also at these gaps that we find the best McLaren, that ofOscar piastri (5th), just ahead Max Verstappen (6e).

At Red Bull, it seemed that two different directions were taken, with a wing probably more steered on Max Verstappen than on Checo Perez. The Dutchman was slower on the straights than the Mexican, and found himself on several occasions in the escape routes, even missing the crash in extremis at turn 5. Behind, Lance stroll finished 7th, the same place occupied by Fernando Alonso Earlier in the day.

It was hot for Max Verstappen 🥵#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/q7vRKNlBOX

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) September 13, 2024

At Haas, optimism is also in order with the 8th place of Nico Hulkenberg and the 10th of Ollie Bearman, author of a good session with good long runs, according to the words of his engineer Mark Slade. George Russell himself had quite a few problems. The Englishman missed the first half of the session, having changed his engine unit before the start of the session. He also had to interrupt his session a few minutes before the end due to problems encountered on his car, without it being known whether or not there was a cause and effect link with the forced engine change.

Author of a very good time in EL1, Franco Colapinto (14th) once again moved in the same waters as his teammate Alexander albon, from which he is only separated by 12/1000ths. The Argentinian still had a scare by going (a little too) hard in the winding sector of the castle, fortunately touching without much consequence with the right rear of his Williams. The two pilots Alpine finished 18th and 19th, just behind a Lando Norris far from time. Free practice 3 will take place on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. before qualifying scheduled for 14 p.m.

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