George Russell Surprises in Final Baku Practice
The final practice session ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw an impressive display from George Russell of Mercedes, who topped the timesheets, surpassing Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and McLaren's Lando Norris. This last practice, often a critical indicator of form, did not disappoint, unfolding a narrative of competition and surprises at the Baku street circuit.
Russell Outpaces Championship Contenders
Russell's performance stood out, not just for the pace he showed, but for how he managed to edge out prominent championship contenders. His timesheet-topping run signals a potentially competitive weekend for Mercedes. The Baku street circuit, known for its combination of high-speed straights and tight corners, seemed to suit Russell’s driving style perfectly, allowing him to exploit every ounce of performance from his car.
Charles Leclerc, who had been the fastest in previous practice sessions, wasn't far behind Russell, finishing just a fraction of a second slower. The Ferrari driver’s consistency over the practice sessions highlights the Scuderia’s strong form coming into the Grand Prix. With Leclerc showing such pace, Ferrari will be hopeful for a strong qualifying session and race.
Norris Secures Valuable Third Place
Lando Norris, trailing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 62 points in the championship standings, secured a noteworthy third place in the final practice. This result is significant for McLaren, indicating that they are in the mix for a competitive showing over the weekend. Norris's performance in the Baku practice sessions reinforces the notion that McLaren is closing the gap to the front-runners, and might just pull off a strong result on race day.
Incidents and Close Calls
The session wasn't without its share of drama. A near-miss incident between Norris and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly earlier in the practice added a layer of tension to proceedings. These incidents served as a reminder of the challenges posed by the Baku circuit, where the mix of narrow streets and high speeds can so easily catch drivers out.
Verstappen Struggles with Understeer
Championship leader Max Verstappen faced a tough session, grappling with understeer that left him down in sixth place. For Red Bull, this final practice underscored the need for potential adjustments to ensure their car is competitive come race day. Verstappen’s performance in practice is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of Formula 1—where even the most dominant teams can find themselves on the back foot unexpectedly.
Crucial Qualifying Session Ahead
The qualifying session, set to take place later in the day, will be a pivotal moment for determining the starting grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Given the tightly contested practice sessions, the qualifying is expected to be a highly competitive affair, with multiple teams showing the potential to claim pole position.
Newey’s Move Adds to the Excitement
Apart from the on-track action, news of Adrian Newey’s move to Aston Martin has created additional buzz in the paddock. Newey, known for his exceptional track record in car design, brings a wealth of experience and expertise. His move could significantly impact Aston Martin’s future fortunes, adding another exciting layer to the weekend’s events.
The Stage is Set
The practice sessions in Baku have set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling qualifying and race. With Russell, Leclerc, and Norris showing such strong form, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive and unpredictable event. Fans will be eagerly anticipating the next chapter of this thrilling season of Formula 1.
Sihle Tana
I am a journalist with a passion for covering daily news in Africa. My work has taken me across the continent, reporting on significant events and stories that impact communities. I strive to bring insightful and comprehensive news coverage to my readers.
Russell killing it today 😍 Baku really suits his style. Hope this translates to race day!
One cannot help but observe the ontological rupture in the hegemonic structure of F1 performance metrics-Russell’s supremacy here is not merely a statistical anomaly, but a symptomatic collapse of the Verstappen-Red Bull episteme. The Baku circuit, as a palimpsest of colonial speed and postmodern chaos, has revealed the fragility of the capitalist aerodynamic apparatus. Ferrari’s Leclerc? Merely a spectral echo of past glories. And Norris? A charming but ultimately subordinate narrative device.
lol at Verstappen stuck in 6th. Baku’s a beast. Russell’s looking smooth though. Hope he keeps it together in quali 🤞
Oh please. Russell only got lucky because the Red Bull was off. The media is already writing his coronation. Funny how they ignore the fact that Mercedes has been running a secret upgrade since Barcelona.
EVERYTHING IS A LIE. Russell’s time? Doctored. The FIA is working with NASA to suppress Verstappen’s true speed. They’re scared. The real reason he’s 6th? His car’s engine is secretly powered by alien tech they don’t want us to know about. Also Newey’s move? A distraction. He’s really building a time machine. I’ve seen the schematics.
Verstappen’s understeer = 100% driver error. He’s lost his edge. Russell’s pace? Clean. Efficient. No drama. That’s what champions do. Red Bull’s in freefall. Mark my words.
yall dont get it russell is just lucky the track is bumpy and verstappen hates bumps and also newey is a spy from ferrari and this whole thing is a plant to make mercedes look good so they can sell more cars in india
This is why I love F1. One session, everything can change. Russell’s got the momentum, Leclerc’s got the consistency, Norris is climbing. And Verstappen? He’s still got the heart. Race day’s gonna be insane. Let’s go!
Interesting how the western media glorifies Russell’s performance while ignoring that Baku’s layout favors low-downforce cars. In India, we call this ‘selective admiration’. But hey, at least the racing’s good.
Russell’s good. But not that good.
I mean... have you ever thought that maybe Russell’s just... better? Not because of the car. Not because of luck. But because he’s quietly, deeply, soulfully in tune with the rhythm of the track? Like... he’s not driving. He’s dancing. And everyone else is just trying to keep up. I cried when he hit that last sector. It was beautiful. I think I’m in love.
Russell’s performance? Aesthetic. Elegant. Almost poetic. But let’s not pretend this isn’t a Mercedes car with a halo effect. The W15 is the most aerodynamically refined machine on the grid-Russell merely serves as its high-end interpreter. Leclerc’s Ferrari? A brute force sonnet. Norris? A jazz improvisation. And Verstappen? A glitch in the matrix. The real genius? Newey. He’s not moving to Aston Martin-he’s relocating his genius to the next evolutionary stage of the sport.
I’ve been watching every session this weekend. Russell’s lap times are impressive, but I’m curious about tire degradation data. The Mercedes seems to be managing rear temps better than Ferrari, which suggests their cooling setup is more optimized for Baku’s long straights. Also, why is Red Bull still running the same front wing profile from Monaco? That could explain the understeer. And I’ve been digging into Newey’s old designs-his 2011 Red Bull had a similar rear diffuser shape. This feels like a callback. I wonder if he’s testing a new airflow theory.
russell is sooo good omg i just wanna cry he’s like a angel on wheels and verstappen is just a big meanie who stole all the glory and now he’s mad and newey is my soulmate