Norris Outpaces Piastri in Dramatic Opening Practice at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Posted : 19 September 2025

Lando Norris delivered an impressive performance on Friday, setting the pace ahead of McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri in an incident-filled opening practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The session was interrupted by red flags but ended with Norris firmly on top of the timesheets.

The 25-year-old Briton, currently trailing Piastri by 31 points in the drivers’ standings, recorded a best lap of 1:42.704, edging his Australian rival by 0.310 seconds. A repeat of this McLaren one-two finish on Sunday would secure back-to-back constructors’ championships for the team, leaving their drivers to battle directly for the individual crown without team orders.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, half a second adrift, while George Russell impressed with fourth for Mercedes despite battling illness. Williams driver Alex Albon claimed fifth, ahead of Red Bull pair Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen. Carlos Sainz, also in a Williams this weekend, placed eighth, with Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar rounding out the top ten.

Kimi Antonelli managed 11th for Mercedes, looking for consistency after recent struggles, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton endured a frustrating session. Hamilton brushed the barriers at Turn 5, damaging his front wing and picking up a puncture. Quick repairs allowed him to rejoin, but he could only finish 13th.

The session began in warm conditions, with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto briefly leading the way. Early laps saw Verstappen set the benchmark before being overtaken by Russell and Hadjar as grip levels improved on the freshly rubbered street circuit. Ten minutes in, Piastri returned to the pits with a potential engine issue, while Leclerc climbed to the top of the standings before a red flag halted the session.

The stoppage was caused by loose bonding material at Turn 16, requiring a 24-minute repair delay. Once running resumed, Norris showed his intent, improving his pace and stretching his lead to nearly a full second over Verstappen. With ten minutes remaining, Piastri returned to second before Leclerc reclaimed the position, but Norris ultimately ended the day fastest.

With McLaren looking strong and both drivers pushing hard, Sunday’s race promises to have significant implications for both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships.

Norris Outpaces Piastri in Dramatic Opening Practice at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

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