Max in P1 in first free practice Baku

Published on 04 June 2021 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen set the quickest time in the first free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. On the 6,003-meter-long Baku Street Circuit it was Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari who set the second time, followed by his teammate Claros Sainz. Max’ teammate at Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, set the fourth time, while Daniel Ricciardo in his McLaren completed the top five.

The sun is shining when the first free practice session starts. The temperature is 26 degrees and a track temperature of 48 degrees. There is however a strong wind which could affect the drivers. When the lights at the end of the pitlane go green, it is straight away busy on track. Besides Max and both Alfa’s everyone else is out on track within the first five minutes.

While Sergio Perez is doing aero tests for Red Bull Racing in the opening phase of the session, it takes Max almost ten minutes before he come out on track. The Dutchman has a set of the medium tyres on his RB16B. His first timed lap puts him in P6 a second from Hamilton, who is in P1 a the time. The reigning world champion is driving on soft tyres.

Hamilton continues to improve his time and puts the competition well behind. Only Max is somewhat able to keep up with less than a second behind in P2. Verstappen returns to the pits after more than twenty minutes to come out not much later, on the same set of medium tyres. He improves his time considerably and stays within two tenths of Hamilton.

Yuki Tsunoda causes a yellow flag in the first sector. The Japanese driver stopped in the run-off area at turn four. “I do not know why, but I cannot find reverse”, says Tsunoda over the radio. Finally he gets the AlphaTauri back on track, ending the yellow flag situation.

Sebastian Vettel also needs to go in a run-off area when he misses the first corner. As there is plenty of space in the run-off area, the German can continue without any damage. In an attempt to take P1 from his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris spins in turn sixteen. The young Brit can also continue unharmed.

With fifteen minutes on the clock, Max comes out on track on a new set of soft tyres. When the Dutchman wants to start his lap he gets into traffic and has to abort. The culprit is Nikita Mazepin. “It is unbelievable, he just stays in front of me”, shouts Max over the radio. The second attempt goes well and puts Max in P1. Perez, literally in Verstappen’s slipstream, goes to P4.

With five minutes to go everyone is out on track. Both Haas cars cause yellow flags in the final phase of the session, so nobody can improve Max’ time. Finishing the first Baku free practice session.

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Results first free practice Azerbaijan: