Full Azerbaijan GP FP2 results | Leclerc pips Perez to P1, Hamilton P3
Charles Leclerc was able to just edge out Sergio Perez in the second free practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, taking P1 ahead of the updated Red Bull.
Just +0.006 seconds separated the Monegaque and the Mexican drivers when the chequered flag fell, with Leclerc able to set a flying lap on the softs with just 12 minutes remaining in FP2. Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes was just +0.066 behind Leclerc in P3, with the front three separated by less than a tenth of a second.
It was a great result for Leclerc, who crashed out in FP1 earlier and missed half of the session. The Ferrari mechanics were able to fix the car before FP2 got underway, but complaints from the Monegasque about the steering meant he was forced to come in for more repairs. However, after all of that, he was able to go fastest.
Behind the tightly packed front three was the other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz in P4, while the McLaren of Oscar Piastri finished just +0.033 behind the Spaniard in P5. Max Verstappen could only finish sixth after his P1 in FP1, with the Dutchman going straight on twice in what was a sloppy session. Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg, George Russell and rookie Ollie Bearman rounded out the top ten.
Lando Norris was impeded by Pierre Gasly on his flying lap on the soft tyres, meaning he could only finish in P17, and right at the end of the session, George Russell had to retire with an issue after he missed out on the majority of FP2 with an enforced engine change.