Exciting Final Practice Sets Stage for Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying

The final practice session before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying concluded with some unexpected results, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable qualifying session. The narrow streets of Baku saw intense competition as top teams tested their strategies.

Mercedes driver George Russell topped the timing sheets at the last minute with an impressive lap of 1 minute 42.514 seconds, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.013 seconds. This strong result from Russell puts Mercedes as a strong contender despite facing challenges earlier in the weekend.

Red Bull continued to flex their competitive muscle, with Max Verstappen finishing the session in fifth place, closely followed by his teammate Sergio Perez in seventh. The team attempted a slipstream strategy to gain positions in the final laps.

Alex Albon surprised the paddock by driving his Williams into fifth place, indicating a possible upset in the upcoming qualifying round. Meanwhile, Williams teammate Franco Colapinto also secured a place among the top ten, highlighting the team’s unexpected ascent in performance.

Oscar Piastri delivered an outstanding lap time of 1 minute 42.749 seconds, putting him momentarily at the top of the leaderboard. This marked a notable achievement for the young driver, making his presence felt among seasoned competitors.

Among the drivers experiencing difficulties, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari both faced challenges but managed to stay competitive. Hamilton ended the session in second place, albeit over half a second behind Piastri’s best effort.

With just minutes remaining in the session, qualifying practice runs began as teams assessed their strategies, including attempting to benefit from slipstreaming on Baku’s long front straight. Errors were seen, notably when Oliver Bearman crashed his car after approaching Turn 1 too quickly, indicating how tricky the track conditions can be.

As the teams gear up for the qualifying sessions, the anticipation builds with multiple contenders within striking distance of securing the pole position. The Azerbaijan circuit’s narrow confines and high-speed straights promise to deliver an adrenaline-charged qualifying battle.