F1 champion Verstappen could potentially see an resolution to the ongoing predicament.
After six races without a win in Formula 1, Max Verstappen was feeling the heat in Baku. His rivals, especially McLaren, were closing in on the championship. However, free practice sessions brought a glimmer of hope for Verstappen and Red Bull. Verstappen topped the morning session, while his teammate Sergio Perez led the afternoon session, giving a promising sign for the team.
Verstappen swore at the sun in Baku's city canyons, then grumbled about his Red Bull, but by the end of the day, he could see a potential comeback. Red Bull showed significant improvement during the free practice for the Sunday race (13:00 CET/RTL and Sky).
Red Bull's championship reign seemed under threat after a series of weak performances. They hadn't won since June and were lagging behind at times. Verstappen's fourth world title seemed uncertain with a 62-point lead over Lando Norris in McLaren.
Charles Leclerc was the fastest driver of the day, setting a time of 1:43.484 minutes, just six thousandths of a second faster than Perez. The power dynamics were not yet clear on the first day. Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes was on par with the leading duo, while Verstappen seemed to be deliberately slowing down in the final sector. Norris, his main rival, was held up in traffic and didn't set a competitive time.
The day ended with a positive impression that Red Bull was climbing out of a deep hole. They learned a lot about their car's weaknesses in the last race in Monza, where Verstappen finished sixth and described his car as a "monster." Team principal Christian Horner hoped they had found the right direction now.
Changes to the underbody were the first steps, but their full effect would only be seen later. The tracks in Baku and Singapore (September 22) had many 90-degree corners, making Red Bull's updates more suitable for fast-flowing tracks like Austin. Even in Baku's practice sessions, Verstappen complained about understeering and nearly crashed in the afternoon. However, his speed was clearly competitive, leaving the qualifying session's outcome uncertain.
"It's all very close, it's hard to read," said Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff on Sky. Norris would likely play a bigger role, with Baku being another crucial weekend for him. In the 17th of 24 season races, he needed to reduce his gap to Verstappen to have realistic title hopes. McLaren had announced they would prioritize Norris in the title fight, with his teammate Oscar Piastri also supporting him.
Nico Hülkenberg secured a good eighth place in Haas, and his substitute teammate also impressed. The young British driver Oliver Bearman (19), replacing the suspended Kevin Magnussen for one race, finished tenth. Next season, Bearman would be a regular driver for Haas.
Max Verstappen, feeling the pressure after six races without a win, found a glimmer of hope in Baku's free practice sessions, as he topped the morning session and allowed teammate Sergio Perez to lead the afternoon session.
Despite facing challenges with understeering during practice and complaining about the car's behavior, Verstappen showcased a competitive speed in Baku, leaving the qualifying session's outcome uncertain.
