(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
McLaren Dominate First Practice at Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Lando Norris Leads Oscar Piastri
Baku, Azerbaijan — McLaren started the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in style as Lando Norris topped the timesheets ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, securing a strong one-two finish in the opening practice session.
The 60-minute run was far from smooth, with a red flag interrupting the session for nearly 20 minutes after a section of rubber came loose beneath the kerb at Turn 16, the final corner leading to the main straight.
That pause worked in McLaren’s favor, giving the team time to address a power unit issue on Piastri’s car. Despite completing only 13 laps compared to Norris’ 18, the championship leader still managed second place, finishing 0.310 seconds behind his teammate.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took third, 0.552 seconds off Norris’ pace, followed by Mercedes driver George Russell in fourth.
Incidents on Track
The session was lively, with several drivers running into trouble:
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Lewis Hamilton clipped the wall at Turn Three, damaging his front wing and picking up a puncture. He ended up only 12th fastest, 0.831 seconds behind Leclerc.
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Max Verstappen was on course to challenge for the top spots before a lock-up at Turn 15 forced him into the escape road, leaving him seventh.
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Williams’ Carlos Sainz, who dislodged the kerb material at Turn 16, finished eighth.
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Alex Albon impressed in sixth for Williams, while Yuki Tsunoda slotted his Red Bull into fifth.
The Bigger Picture
Piastri leads the championship by 31 points over Norris, but McLaren’s pace in Baku suggests the intra-team battle could tighten further. With Ferrari and Mercedes also showing competitive speed, fans can expect a thrilling weekend ahead.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix continues with second practice and qualifying sessions, with all eyes on whether McLaren can maintain their edge.
