Lando Norris in Baku GP in 2024 @RacePictures

Here's the full schedule of the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku

07:41, 20 Sep

Updated: 16:56, 20 Sep

byTobia Elia

Saturday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will see FP3 and qualifying take place at the Baku City Circuit. Here's the full schedule, plus a recap from Friday's action.

George Russell in Baku in 2024 | Source: RacePictures

2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Full schedule

Friday, September 19

Free Practice 1: 12:30 - 13:30 local time (09:30 - 10:30 BST)

Free Practice 2: 16:00 - 17:00 local time (13:00 - 14:00 BST)

Saturday, September 20

Free Practice 3: 12:30 - 13:30 local time (09:30 - 10:30 BST)

Qualifying: 16:00 - 17:00 local time (13:00 - 14:00 BST)

Sunday, September 21

Race: 15:00 (12:00 BST)

Hamilton pinpoints the fatal mistake in disappointing Baku qualifying

“The medium tyre was just much quicker,” Hamilton this bluntly at the end of qualifying, admitting that choosing to run the softs on his final Q2 lap was a mistake.

When asked to elaborate on the tyre choice, the Briton added: “Basically, the team chose to run me on the medium one. Charles was meant to run it in the second round of Q2, but then opted—because everyone else wasn’t out on them—to keep it. And then all the top 10 basically had three mediums.

We knew that the medium was quicker, but they said that you had three sets or something like that. And it felt great. We should have run it in.”

Hamilton finally admitted that, in his view, a top-three finish was within reach today: “Honestly, I thought I was going to be fighting for the top three today. I thought I might be able to get both in. That’s how much I hadn’t felt that early on. So it’s definitely tough to be in 12th, but as I said, I don’t think that’s… I don’t feel that’s down to my driving. It’s just execution.”

Verstappen confirms Red Bull truth

After clinching pole, Verstappen shared his thoughts on his qualifying session in Baku. "Long qualifying, to be honest, with so many red flags," he said. "So it was very difficult to basically get your lap together because most of the time your tyres are not really ready or again, a red flag happens.

"Especially Q3 with also a bit of rain around, it was a very difficult session and then in the final lap you just have to send it. I wasn't even on the best tyres that I wanted but because of all the red flags you basically run out of tyres."

"I'm very happy with so far how the weekend went, because I think from FP1 we were not too bad and we just kept on improving a tiny amount and then we were there in qualifying and that's of course where it matters.

"I think we definitely were in there for pole. Of course, Q3 is always a bit messy for everyone. But I'm just happy. It seems like since Monza we're doing a better job and I hope that we can continue in that way."

Sainz takes stunning P2 in Baku qualifying

"Honestly, we've nailed the qualifying today," said Sainz. "Every time being on the right tyre at the right time and putting together some very strong laps. Obviously the moment that top car [Verstappen's Red Bull] was going to put the lap together we were always going to be those four or five tenths behind, like we are always.

"But it was only one of them which was Max, [so] not surprised." Regarding McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari who sat beaten by Williams, he said: "And for the rest we managed to beat them and yeah we were in P2 which is great news.

Lawson fought his brain for chance to duke it out at the front

On the grid, Lawson could not hide his glee at his P3 result in the mixed conditions session which proved to be a very complex one to navigate with all the crashes and red flags.

"It was so busy. Obviously, it's still raining now. It was very busy. I said it would be, but I didn't expect it to be like that, honestly," he said.

"But the car has been good all weekend and when it needed to be in qualy, it was good. So, massive thanks to the guys and girls. The team has been amazing this weekend so far, but obviously tomorrow is the important day.

Norris sets lightning pace ahead of Piastri in incident-filled FP1

Lando Norris and McLaren sent an ominous message to the rest of he grid by finishing three-tenths clear of the rest of the grid in free practice one at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc rounding out the top three.

Piastri's practice session then ended abruptly, with a power unit issue forcing him back into the garage after just five minutes of running, with plenty of work for the McLaren mechanics to do.

Just ten minutes after Piastri's issue, some debris fell off Carlos Sainz's Williams after he ran over the kerb at turns 16 and 17, forcing the red flag to come out and suspend the session with Norris, Russell and Leclerc leading proceedings.

The out-of-place kerb at turns 16 and 17 then resulted in a suspension to the session for just over 25 minutes as the Baku marshals repaired the circuit damage, with no running taking place despite it being yellow flag conditions.

Norris led the way with a 1.43.747 before the session was halted, with Max Verstappen the only driver to get within a tenth of a second during the second part of the session.

However, the Brit then showed the superior pace that he and McLaren have over the rest of the grid, setting a 1.42.704 with just over 11 minutes left to go, just over a second clear of Verstappen and Piastri.

Photo: Race Pictures

Ferrari shines in FP2: Hamilton leads Leclerc as Norris hits the wall

Lewis Hamilton led a Ferrari one-two in FP2 of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Behind Charles Leclerc, George Russell completed the top three in Baku.

Hamilton's fastest time was a 1:41.293, as he finished just ahead of his teammate this Friday afternoon. Russell followed in third position, but the Briton was around half a second slower than the Ferrari duo.

Max Verstappen set the sixth quickest time, finishing six tenths behind the seven-time world champion.

The British driver was unable to finish the session, as he hit the wall in Turn 4, breaking his suspension in the process. Norris nevertheless managed to bring his damaged car back to the pit lane without causing a red flag.

Minutes later, at Turn 15, Oscar Piastri also brushed the wall, though the Australian was able to continue.

Norris admits to 'costly' mistake after damaging McLaren's suspension

Around the halfway point of the afternoon session at the Baku City Circuit, the McLaren driver hit the wall in Turn 4.

It was a 'costly' mistake, the Briton admitted to F1 TV after the session. "I was feeling good until then, so I'd rather have this and push and find the limits than not push at all.

"I would have liked to get some high fuel laps in especially on these tyres, the softer compound compared to last year but it is what it is and I'd love to make up for it," he explained.

"I'm behind on the learnings now. A scrappy session, from my side, I think from Oscar's side [too], he seemed to be struggling a little bit with the car as well. So we'll see what we can make up for tomorrow."

Hamilton: ‘Job not done’ despite leading Ferrari 1-2 in Baku

Speaking to F1 TV, the seven-time world shared the first session was a bit of a mess, but he could find more confidence heading into FP2.

"It wasn't so positive, I would say P1 was a bit of a mess and this is a circuit where you have to have mega confidence in the brakes and I had some problems with the brakes.

"Every track I'm going to is the first time driving a Ferrari at that circuit, so acclimatizing to that is not easy. And then we made some changes going into FP2, and the brakes finally were working perfect, and so I was able to really make some quick big advantage in terms of gaining on the brakes."

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