F1 Azerbaijan GP: Lando Norris tops windy FP3 by two tenths

McLaren’s Lando Norris has topped final practice ahead of an unpredictable qualifying session for Formula 1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

On a gusty Baku street circuit, Norris set his benchmark time towards the end of the session while several rivals slipped up.

The session got off to a leisurely start on the low-grip street circuit, which saw a layer of autumn leaves strewn on the track. The 6km street layout, which commands low downforce levels, was made extra sketchy by the gusts of crosswind coming from the Caspian Sea.

Haas driver Oliver Bearman was on top early on with a 1m44s on hards until McLaren’s Lando Norris set a 1m43.640s on softs, still far removed from Friday’s one-lap times. Charles Leclerc was on course to demolish that benchmark until he went off the track in the final corner.

Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton went deep into Turn 15, having to perform a 180-degree spin to rejoin the racing surface, but then went on to grab top spot with a 1m42.988s.

The seven-time world champion was soon demoted by Leclerc once more, with Piastri and both Williams cars also finding the top five around the halfway point of the one-hour session.

Verstappen took second as part of a longer stint on soft tyres and then found more time on the same set to take top with a 1m41.727s, which was still four tenths slower than Hamilton’s FP2 benchmark from Friday.

But Verstappen wouldn’t stay there for long, as inside the final 15 minutes the entire field came back out for qualifying simulations on new tyres.

Norris was the first frontrunner to show his hand, clocking the fastest time of the weekend with a 1m41.223s on softs. Reigning world champion Verstappen conceded two tenths after a close brush with the wall.

The final salvo of runs coincided with the wind picking up strength, which inevitably invited various mistakes on the tricky street circuit.

Championship leader Oscar Piastri endured a messy end to the session, aborting one lap after a huge slide in Turn 4 before sliding off the road at Turn 1 on the following tour. The Australian’s third attempt was more successful, taking third three tenths behind title rival Norris.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Clive Rose / Getty Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is desperate for a clean weekend performance after a poor Monza showing, had a solid session for Mercedes in fifth, ahead of Alex Albon, who also looked competitive in the Williams.

Oliver Bearman confirmed a solid start to the weekend in seventh, while in the second Mercedes George Russell rued set-up changes that made him “lock up at every corner” as he claimed eighth, eight tenths behind Norris.

Liam Lawson recovered from a 360-degree spin in the crosswind-affected Turn 15 to take a top-10 slot on ninth.

Leclerc, who took the last four pole positions in Baku, struggled to get a clean lap together and could only manage 10th despite the speed Ferrari had shown on Friday.

Qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off at 16:00 local Azeri time (GMT+4).