Ferrari Shine as Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc Lead FP2 in Baku While McLaren Struggles

Brivify – The streets of Baku offered no mercy in Friday’s second free practice, but Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc thrived where others faltered. In a session defined by slippery tarmac, unexpected crashes, and strategy questions, Ferrari’s red machines stayed firmly at the top. Lewis Hamilton, with a lap of 1m41.543s on mediums, edged ahead of his teammate, setting the tone for a Ferrari-dominated afternoon that brought a fresh wave of optimism to the Scuderia’s garage.

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Early Pace and Strategic Questions

Leclerc opened the session strongly on soft tyres, briefly holding the top spot before Lewis Hamilton’s run on mediums stole the show. The difference highlighted the looming challenge for teams: should they gamble on Pirelli’s ultra-soft C6 compounds for qualifying or trust the versatility of the mediums? On a track that evolves rapidly with every lap, those decisions could be the difference between pole position and midfield obscurity. By comparison, times were already a full second faster than FP1, underscoring just how quickly grip was improving.

Norris Meets the Wall at Turn 4

The session turned chaotic when Lando Norris suffered race-ending damage. Pushing on soft tyres, the McLaren star clipped the outside wall at Turn 4, ripping his left-rear track rod out of alignment. It was a harsh reminder of how unforgiving Baku’s narrow escape routes can be. His early lap had been enough for 10th place, but with no chance to improve, Norris left his team scrambling to repair the car overnight before FP3.

Leclerc Strikes Back Before Lewis Hamilton Responds

As the track rubbered in, Leclerc roared back with a blistering 1m41.367s, going fastest by 0.176s thanks to Ferrari’s raw straight-line speed down Baku’s mammoth sector three. Yet Lewis Hamilton, never one to be overshadowed, reclaimed the top spot late in the session. Switching to soft tyres, he dipped a decisive 0.074s under Leclerc’s time, ensuring Ferrari ended FP2 with both cars firmly in command.

Piastri’s Brush With Trouble

Norris wasn’t the only McLaren driver wrestling with Baku’s walls. Oscar Piastri, the current championship leader, also made contact at Turn 15. Luckily, the TecPro barriers absorbed most of the impact, sparing him from serious damage. Still, Piastri’s struggles echoed Norris’s, as both McLaren drivers appeared unsettled under braking. To compound matters, Piastri faces a post-session investigation for allegedly failing to slow under yellow flags.

Mercedes Stays Close Behind

While Ferrari dominated, Mercedes quietly made their presence felt. George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli both slotted into the top four, with Russell himself narrowly avoiding a crash of his own. Though they trailed by about four tenths, the Silver Arrows seemed poised to capitalize if Ferrari falters in qualifying. For Antonelli, the youngster’s steady pace in only his second season proved he is increasingly ready to deliver at the sharp end.

Surprises in the Midfield Battle

FP2 wasn’t just about Ferrari and McLaren. Ollie Bearman, making headlines once again for Haas, stunned by grabbing fifth place at the very circuit where he debuted in 2024. Behind him, Max Verstappen kept Red Bull in contention with sixth, though the reigning champion seemed frustrated with the car’s balance. Liam Lawson continued to impress for Racing Bulls in seventh, ahead of Esteban Ocon’s Haas and Alex Albon’s Williams, both reminding fans that midfield unpredictability remains alive in 2025.

Looking Ahead to Qualifying

As the sun sets on Baku, questions linger. Ferrari’s one-lap pace looks devastating, but McLaren’s woes raise doubts about their title credentials. Norris’s crash and Piastri’s investigation may tilt the balance of power even further in Ferrari’s favor. With FP3 scheduled for 12:30 local time and qualifying just hours later, the stage is set for another high-stakes battle on the streets of Azerbaijan. One thing is certain: in Baku, the walls are as much an opponent as any driver on the grid.