Norris leads interrupted training session by damaged kerb in Azerbaijan

The championship’s vice-leader, Lando Norris, was the fastest in the first free practice session for the Azerbaijan GP. The session was stopped for about 20 minutes due to damage to the last corner’s kerb, caused by Carlos Sainz. The interruption was welcomed by the championship leader, Oscar Piastri. In the first half-hour of the session, McLaren was investigating a power unit issue they noticed on the installation lap at the start of training. With the red flag, this meant Piastri didn’t end up losing as much track time in practice compared to others. Piastri ended the session in second place, three tenths behind his McLaren teammate. And the third place went to Charles Leclerc, a specialist in Baku, a track where he has secured four pole positions. Watch Formula 1 broadcasts live on UOL Play and don’t miss any races of the season. As is customary in Baku, a street circuit, the first free practice started with low grip and the trend is for the track to improve rapidly, especially since F2 is also racing this weekend and some drivers have touched the guardrails. The biggest impact was Lewis Hamilton’s, damaging his front wing at the entrance to turn 5. Bortoleto struggles with braking Gabriel Bortoleto went straight at turn 2’s braking point twice. It is normal for drivers to opt out of making the turn when they feel they braked too much or when the tires are still too cold to generate the necessary grip. Since there is a good run-off area there, it is one of the corners where you can push until you find the limit. The Brazilian was complaining to the team that the front tires were locking up under braking, and they used the session to test settings that could solve the issue. But by the end of the session, he was radioing in complaints that the braking wasn’t to his liking. ‘It’s very potato-shaped,’ he said, using a term that drivers use to describe a more rounded braking, which takes longer to stop the car. The Brazilian finished in 14th place, a tenth slower than his teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who was 12th.