If you’d told me, back in the days when Baku was a mere glint in Bernie Ecclestone’s eye, that Lewis Hamilton would be topping a Friday session here in 2025—outpacing the Ferraris, with a rookie Haas in the top five and McLaren’s golden boy limping home after a brush with the wall—I’d have asked what you’d been drinking. But here we are, on a Friday in September, with the Baku City Circuit once again proving that Formula 1’s only constant is its capacity to surprise.
The Old Lion Roars Again
Let’s not mince words: Lewis Hamilton’s name at the top of the FP2 timesheets is a sight that, in recent years, has become as rare as a quiet team radio from Fernando Alonso. Yet, there he was, clocking a 1:41.293—quicker than last year’s pole and, more importantly, quicker than the man who’s made Baku his personal qualifying playground, Charles Leclerc.
For context, Hamilton has only topped a Baku Free Practice session twice before: FP1 in 2016 and FP2 in 2017. On both occasions, he finished the race fifth, despite taking pole in 2017. His sole Baku victory, in 2018, came after a weekend where he didn’t top a single practice session. If you’re looking for omens, you’ll find none here—Baku laughs in the face of patterns.
Yes, he’s fast. So was Jean Alesi. Look how that turned out.
Pedro, probably, every Friday since 1997
But today, Hamilton’s lap was not just fast—it was authoritative. The Mercedes looked planted, the rear end obedient, and the seven-time champion’s confidence was palpable. For a man who’s spent the last two seasons wrestling a diva of a car, this was a statement. Whether it’s a harbinger of Sunday glory or just another Baku red herring remains to be seen.
Ferrari’s Red Mirage
If Ferrari fans are feeling a sense of déjà vu, it’s because they’ve been here before—fast on Friday, hopeful on Saturday, and philosophical by Sunday evening. Charles Leclerc, just 0.074s behind Hamilton, continued his love affair with Baku’s walls and apexes. The Monegasque has claimed four consecutive poles here, yet the race win remains elusive.
What’s truly remarkable is the rare sight of a Ferrari one-two in FP2—something that, according to the annals of F1 history, has never happened before at this circuit. Not in the Vettel-Raikkonen era, not in the Leclerc-Sainz years, and certainly not in the days when Ferrari’s biggest Baku achievement was keeping all four wheels attached.
Let’s wait for the third race before calling anyone a legend.
Pedro, after every Ferrari Friday since the invention of the V6 turbo
But today, the Scuderia looked genuinely threatening. The car was quick in the twisty castle section and stable on the 2.2-kilometre straight. If they can keep the red cars out of the barriers and the strategy department out of the headlines, Sunday might just be painted rosso corsa.
The Young Guns and the Haas Surprise
Behind the usual suspects, the timesheets offered a glimpse of F1’s future—and, perhaps, its present. George Russell slotted into third, a testament to Mercedes’ newfound pace, while Kimi Antonelli continued to justify the hype with a composed fourth place. But the real eyebrow-raiser was Oliver Bearman, hauling his Haas into the top five.
Bearman’s performance is the kind of thing that makes seasoned journalists reach for their notebooks and team principals reach for their cheque books. Haas, a team more accustomed to fighting for Q2 than FP2 glory, suddenly found themselves in the spotlight. Whether it’s a flash in the pan or the start of something more substantial, only time will tell.
McLaren’s Baku Blues
If there’s one thing Baku guarantees, it’s drama—and McLaren found themselves at the heart of it. Lando Norris, fresh from topping FP1, ended his day in the barriers, his rear suspension in tatters and his mechanics in despair. The papaya squad, so often the darlings of Friday, were left licking their wounds.
Norris managed only 10th, with Oscar Piastri down in 12th after a session marred by a power unit scare. For a team that arrived in Azerbaijan as favourites, it was a sobering reminder that Baku’s walls have no respect for reputation.
DRS doesn’t make you brave, it makes you pass.
Pedro, on the perils of Baku’s slipstream lottery
For those who missed the carnage, the live reaction and timing can be found here: LIVE: Reaction as Hamilton sets blistering Baku FP2 pace as Norris crashes
Red Bull’s Quiet Struggle
And what of Red Bull? Max Verstappen, the man who’s made winning look routine, found himself languishing in seventh, behind Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull B-team entry. The reigning champion was quick to point out the car’s weaknesses in Baku’s unique mix of 90-degree corners and endless straights.
For a team that’s dominated the hybrid era, this was a rare off-day. Whether it’s a blip or the beginning of a trend is anyone’s guess, but if history teaches us anything, it’s that Red Bull rarely stays down for long.
FP2 Standings: The Numbers Behind the Story
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:41.293 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.074 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.477 |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.486 |
| 5 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +0.598 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.609 |
For the full results and more, see: 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku Free Practice 2 results
Baku’s History of Friday Surprises
If you’re new to Baku’s brand of chaos, let me offer a brief history lesson. Since its debut in 2016, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has made a habit of turning the form book on its head. Hamilton’s previous FP2-topping performance in 2017 ended in a race-day disaster, while Leclerc’s poles have rarely translated into wins.
Ferrari, for all their Friday heroics, have never managed a one-two in FP2 here—until today. And McLaren, despite their recent resurgence, have found Baku to be a cruel mistress, with Norris’ crash today echoing the team’s struggles in years past.
The Human Element: Pressure, Youth, and the Weight of Expectation
What makes today’s FP2 so compelling isn’t just the lap times—it’s the stories behind them. Hamilton, at 40, is still capable of magic. Leclerc, forever the nearly man in Baku, is desperate to convert pace into points. Antonelli and Bearman, barely old enough to rent a car in some countries, are already mixing it with the best.
And then there’s Norris, whose frustration was palpable as he limped back to the pits. In a sport obsessed with perfection, Baku reminds us that even the best can falter.
Waste a Bit More Time
If you’re as addicted to Baku’s unpredictability as I am, here are a few ways to prolong your Friday:
- 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku Free Practice 2 results
- LIVE: Reaction as Hamilton sets blistering Baku FP2 pace as Norris crashes
- Lando Norris highlights setback after ‘annoying’ Baku crash
- Max Verstappen identifies Red Bull weakness in Baku battle
And if you’re still not satisfied, remember: in Formula 1, the only thing more unpredictable than Baku’s walls is what happens next.
