5 things we learned from Friday practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Leclerc ends Friday on top but hopes for 'another step' as he braces for Verstappen challenge
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from the second practice session in Baku
‘We seem fast’ – Alonso pleased with Friday performance in Baku after set-up choice helps him to P4 in FP2
Gasly enjoys 'amazing' opening day in Azerbaijan as AlphaTauri hit the ground running
’Brake magic’, an unlikely winner atop an even less likely podium, and some ugly team mate battling – last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix had plenty of action for fans to focus on.
Max Verstappen was seemingly romping home to an easy victory on the streets of Baku when a sudden tyre failure saw him hit the wall on the start-finish straight.
At the restart following a red flag period to clear the mess up, Lewis Hamilton then leapt past Sergio Perez. But with Hamilton’s finger having slipped on his ‘brake magic’ button – a device Mercedes use to throw the brake bias forward to heat up the tyres – Hamilton then immediately skated into the run-off before recovering to P15.
READ MORE: Perez in the title mix and Ferrari looking to hit back – 5 storylines we’re excited for ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
That left Perez to lead home Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly – while both Haas drivers were lucky to escape unharmed as they came within inches of touching on a last-lap blast to the line.
Relive all the action from the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in the video above.
Red Bull pair confident they can close up to Ferrari in Baku despite ‘tricky’ Friday
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from second practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from first practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
‘We seem fast’ – Alonso pleased with Friday performance in Baku after set-up choice helps him to P4 in FP2
Bottas aims for 'trouble-free weekend' to unleash 'full potential' of Alfa Romeo in Azerbaijan
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