Baku, September 19, 2025
First practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix resumed after a brief stoppage when kerb fragments were spotted on the Baku City Circuit. Marshals cleared the debris quickly and running continued, with McLaren setting the early pace: Lando Norris topped the timesheets, teammate Oscar Piastri was second, and Charles Leclerc put Ferrari third.
The balance swung in FP2, where Lewis Hamilton led a Ferrari 1–2 ahead of Leclerc, while George Russell (Mercedes) took third. The shift sets up an intriguing qualifying battle on a street track that typically tightens the field and punishes mistakes. The race weekend concludes September 21.
Formula 2 qualifying was stop-start. Amaury Cordeel (Rodin Motorsport) hit the barriers to bring out the first red flag; a later collision between Roman Staněk (Invicta Racing) and John Bennett (Van Amersfoort Racing) triggered another. When the session finally ran to the flag, Jack Crawford (DAMS Lucas Oil) secured pole position, with Leonardo Fornaroli (Invicta Racing) second and Gabriele Mini (PREMA Racing) third.
Off the track, organizers unveiled a refreshed winner’s trophy designed by Pininfarina, dedicated to Azerbaijan’s “Land of Fire” motif. The flame-shaped cup features side engravings inspired by national carpet patterns, including the “Khan Qarabagh” motif—an attempt to fuse Formula 1’s sense of speed with local heritage.
