Lewis Hamilton Leads Ferrari Charge in FP2

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton delivered his strongest display of the season so far, setting the pace in Friday’s second practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025. The seven-time world champion clocked a 1:41.293 on soft tyres, edging teammate Charles Leclerc by just 0.074s to secure a Ferrari one-two at the top of the timesheets.

The performance marked a confidence boost for Lewis Hamilton, who has yet to claim a podium since joining Ferrari but appears to be finding new rhythm with the SF-25.

McLaren Title Hopes Hit as Norris and Piastri Crash

McLaren entered the Baku weekend with the chance to seal the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, but both drivers endured setbacks in FP2:

• Lando Norris: After topping FP1, the Brit clipped the wall at Turn 4, damaging his left-rear suspension. His session ended prematurely after just 30 minutes, leaving him 10th fastest.

• Oscar Piastri: The current championship leader brushed the Tecpro barrier at Turn 15, forcing him to abort his flying lap. Though his car escaped damage, he finished 12th, two places behind Norris.

To add to McLaren’s woes, Piastri received a reprimand from the stewards for not slowing sufficiently under yellow flags, though mitigating circumstances were acknowledged.

Ferrari Find Momentum on Hamilton’s Side

While Leclerc has dominated qualifying at Baku in recent years, Lewis Hamilton looked more comfortable across both soft and medium tyres. Despite a brush with the wall in FP1, the Brit showed improved braking confidence—an area that has troubled him all season.

Sky Sports pundit Anthony Davidson noted:

“Lewis is definitely looking more confident than we have seen all season. If there’s ever a circuit where you need confidence in braking, it’s here in Baku.”

Jamie Chadwick added:

“It sounds like Ferrari have tried something unconventional on his car—and it’s worked. He looks happier and able to push consistently.”

Mercedes, Haas and Red Bull in the Mix

Behind Ferrari, George Russell led Mercedes’ charge in third, with rookie Kimi Antonelli just behind in fourth after enjoying a clean Friday.

Haas delivered a surprise as Oliver Bearman went fifth-fastest, ahead of Max Verstappen, who endured a scrappy session with multiple run-offs but still placed sixth.

Other top-10 finishers included Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) in seventh, Esteban Ocon (Haas) in eighth, and Alex Albon (Williams) in ninth.

Azerbaijan GP 2025 FP2 Results – Top 10

1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:41.293

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.074s

3. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.498s

4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

5. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

8. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

9. Alex Albon (Williams)

10. Lando Norris (McLaren)

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What to Expect in Qualifying

With Ferrari’s pace looking strong, McLaren on the back foot, and Verstappen lurking, qualifying in Baku is set to be a three-way fight. Leclerc will aim to extend his pole streak at this circuit, while Lewis Hamilton hopes to convert Ferrari’s form into a long-awaited podium.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on McLaren to see if they can recover and keep their title hopes on track.