Free Practice 2 in Baku showcased exactly why this street circuit has a reputation for chaos. With sections narrower than ever and Turn 15 looming as the biggest trap, it feels inevitable that we’ll see a safety car or even a red flag during the race.
Lewis Hamilton topped the session with a 1:41.293, ahead of Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and a surprise mix of names like Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman rounding out the top five. On paper it looked dominant, but the result was heavily shaped by clean execution. Russell, for example, had been on course for a quicker lap before a moment forced him to back out, while McLaren’s day fell apart with Lando Norris crashing and Oscar Piastri repeatedly brushing the barriers. Ferrari, by contrast, ran smooth and low without worrying about plank wear, something they consistently do in practice to give themselves an early headline advantage.
Hamilton’s pace was impressive, but it’s worth noting his quickest time came with a huge tow from Leclerc. Ferrari clearly had their engines turned up more than rivals; history suggests that once everyone else unleashes full power in qualifying, the gap will shrink dramatically. That said, Baku has always suited Ferrari, with Leclerc already taking multiple poles here in recent years, so the raw pace can’t be dismissed entirely.
Behind the timesheets, one ongoing storyline is Hamilton’s race engineer Riccardo Adami. His radio tone often comes across flat or even negative, and some argue Lewis would benefit from someone more uplifting. Still, Adami’s longevity in the sport speaks for itself, Sebastian Vettel even requested him at Ferrari, which suggests his value goes far beyond soundbites.
McLaren had a rough day. Both drivers lost control on the C6 softs, which looked especially tricky around the narrow streets. Norris’ crash into the wall bent the car awkwardly, leaving it looking like one wheel was pointing in another direction, while Piastri kissed the TecPro in a less damaging but still concerning fashion. The incidents underscored how unstable the car looked on the softer compound; grip levels were inconsistent, and the balance nervous through the slower sections.
Piastri also attracted the stewards’ attention, not for overtaking under yellows but for failing to slow sufficiently, a subtle but important distinction. It echoes George Russell’s reprimand in Baku a few years ago, where drivers argued that braking hard mid-corner would have been more dangerous than holding pace.
On the technical side, Ferrari introduced a larger brake duct exit, Racing Bulls brought both front and rear brake duct updates, Red Bull tested a reprofiled rear wing and Monza floor, and Mercedes trialed revised front wing flaps.
Adding context from Friday’s first session, Baku has already been unpredictable. FP1 gave us its share of comedy and drama, Carlos Sainz mistakenly pulled into the Alpine garage in a moment of confusion, while Alex Albon lost his left mirror entirely, creating the running gag about Williams’ “weight-saving” mirrors. These early incidents set the tone for what has been a scrappy start to the weekend.
As for Ferrari, their pattern feels familiar: look strong on Friday, spark hope, then fade when it counts. They’ve made a habit of showing their hand early, only for rivals to catch up in qualifying once power modes are unleashed. Fans know the cycle well, hope, hype, and then disappointment, but with Hamilton and Leclerc running clean laps in FP2 while others faltered, there’s at least a platform to build from.
Overall, FP2 confirmed that this weekend will be defined by chaos. The circuit punishes even the smallest errors, McLaren are already nursing bruised chassis after mistakes on the C6s, Williams are still dealing with the fallout from their mirror mishap, and Ferrari once again sit at the top of the timesheets in a role they know all too well: Friday heroes, Saturday and Sunday question marks.