What went on in second Azerbaijan GP F1 practice in Baku

Charles Leclerc edged FP1 pacesetter Sergio Perez to top the second Formula 1 practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

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Key moments:

> Leclerc leads Perez by 0.248s

> Verstappen third, ahead of Alonso

> Mistakes aplenty including for Leclerc and Perez

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Ferrari’s Leclerc went quickest on his soft tyre-run to top FP1 on a 1m43.224s, 0.248s quicker than Monaco Grand Prix winner Sergio Perez.

Leclerc complained of engine issues in the closing stages of the session – “What’s going on? There’s a problem with the engine?”

But he was later told that everything was fine.

Perez’s team-mate Max Verstappen couldn’t get a clean lap in right away on the soft tyres amid the traffic – and yellow flags for a brief Perez off at Turn 15 – and ultimately ended up third, a further tenth adrift.

Fernando Alonso enjoyed strong straightline speed aboard his Alpine and used this to set the fastest final sector time on his way to the fourth-fastest overall time.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who had a late-session trip down the Turn 15 escape road, couldn’t get a proper flying lap in on the soft tyres at all, and rounded out the top five by virtue of his medium-tyre run.

AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was sixth-quickest ahead of the lead Mercedes of George Russell and his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

Esteban Ocon was ninth-fastest ahead of the highest-placed McLaren of Lando Norris, who caused the first yellow flag of FP2 with an off at Turn 3 just moments into the session.

Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel was 11th-quickest ahead of seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.

Practice 2 Results