If you ever needed a reminder that Formula 1 is a sport where the script is written in pencil and the eraser is wielded by the wind, look no further than the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s third free practice session. In a city where the walls are closer than your mother-in-law’s questions and the wind is as unpredictable as Ferrari’s pit strategies, today’s FP3 was a masterclass in chaos, resilience, and—dare I say—British pluck.
- The Baku Breeze: When the Circuit Fights Back
- Norris Ascendant: The McLaren Statement
- Hamilton Lurks, Red Bull Experiments
- Table: FP3 Standings – Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025
- The Art of Surviving Baku: A Historical Perspective
- The Wind: Baku’s Invisible Adversary
- McLaren’s Baku Renaissance
- Red Bull: The Experimenters
- The Human Element: Pressure, Nerves, and Opportunity
- Quotes from the Paddock
- The Numbers Don’t Lie: Baku’s FP3 Surprises (2017–2024)
- What Next? Qualifying Awaits
- Waste a Bit More Time
The Baku Breeze: When the Circuit Fights Back
Baku has always been a circuit that rewards the brave and punishes the overconfident. Today, the wind was the true protagonist, swirling through the city’s narrow streets and wide boulevards, turning every braking zone into a lottery and every apex into a leap of faith. The session was peppered with yellow flags, as drivers tiptoed on the edge of adhesion, their cars twitching like caffeinated cats on a marble floor.
Yet, despite the meteorological mischief, all twenty drivers survived the hour without a single car meeting the infamous Baku barriers. That, in itself, is a minor miracle—one that would have made even the stoic Jackie Stewart raise an eyebrow.
Norris Ascendant: The McLaren Statement
Lando Norris, that perennial nearly-man of McLaren, finally found himself at the top of the timesheets when it mattered. His lap—precise, unflustered, and 0.222 seconds clear of Max Verstappen—was a statement not just of speed, but of intent. For a driver who has spent years in the shadow of Red Bull’s relentless efficiency and Mercedes’ sporadic brilliance, this was a moment to savour.
Lando Norris topped third and final practice ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, to lead an intriguing fight heading into qualifying.
Jake Nichol, RacingNews365
Behind him, Verstappen looked more mortal than usual, his Red Bull dancing uneasily in the gusts. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, slotted into third, just 0.254 seconds adrift, confirming that McLaren’s resurgence is no longer a rumour whispered in the paddock, but a reality etched in lap times.
For those who missed the live drama, you can catch the session’s highlights and analysis here: 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku Free Practice 3 results.
Hamilton Lurks, Red Bull Experiments
Lewis Hamilton, ever the opportunist, was fourth—within three-tenths of Norris. The seven-time champion has made a career out of lurking in the shadows, waiting for the moment to strike. Today, he looked like a man who knows the wind can be both friend and foe.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s garage was a hive of hard experimentation, as the team sought to give Verstappen a better place for qualifying. It’s a phrase that would make Ross Brawn chuckle—back in his day, experimentation usually meant a new front wing, not a complete philosophical rethink.
Table: FP3 Standings – Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | [Time not published] | — |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.222s | |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.254s | |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | <0.3s | |
| … | … | … | … | … |
Note: Full times are still being loaded at the time of writing. For the latest, see the official session results.
The Art of Surviving Baku: A Historical Perspective
If you think today’s session was wild, let’s take a stroll down memory lane. Baku’s FP3 has always been a magnet for mayhem:
- In 2017, Verstappen and Perez both found the wall, and the session was a red-flag festival.
- 2018 saw Brendon Hartley’s suspension fail spectacularly, scattering carbon fibre and nerves alike.
- 2019? George Russell’s Williams was nearly swallowed by a loose drain cover, cancelling FP3 altogether.
- 2021 and 2022 brought more crashes, red flags, and midfield miracles—Pierre Gasly topping the session in 2021, and Fernando Alonso splitting the Red Bulls and Ferraris in 2022.
The common thread? Baku’s FP3 is never a procession. It’s a test of nerve, adaptability, and—most of all—luck.
The Wind: Baku’s Invisible Adversary
Ask any engineer in the paddock, and they’ll tell you: Baku’s wind is the stuff of nightmares. It changes direction on a whim, turning a well-balanced car into a handful in the blink of an eye. Today was no exception. Drivers reported sudden gusts in the castle section, and more than one onboard camera caught a car snapping sideways with no warning.
It was a tricky FP3 session with multiple yellow flags and strong changing wind conditions, although all drivers survived without damage to their cars.
RacingNews365
Historically, these conditions have led to some of the most unpredictable qualifying grids in recent memory. In 2021, for example, the wind contributed to crashes for both Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz, shuffling the order and giving Pierre Gasly a rare moment at the top.
McLaren’s Baku Renaissance
For McLaren, today’s result is more than just a fast lap. It’s a vindication of years of toil, heartbreak, and incremental progress. The team’s last FP3-topping performance at Baku came in 2024, courtesy of Oscar Piastri—a result that foreshadowed his eventual race win. Now, with both Norris and Piastri in the top three, McLaren fans can dare to dream of more than just podiums.
It’s a far cry from the dark days of the late 2010s, when the team was more likely to be found arguing with Honda than fighting for pole. As the old saying goes, In Formula 1, you’re only as good as your last upgrade.
Red Bull: The Experimenters
Red Bull’s decision to experiment with setups in FP3 is a sign of both confidence and concern. Verstappen’s discomfort in the wind was palpable, and the team’s willingness to try hard experimentation suggests they know McLaren is a real threat. In the past, such gambles have paid off—think of their bold strategies at Monaco or Singapore—but in Baku, the margin for error is razor-thin.
For more on Red Bull’s approach, see: Red Bull reveal ‘hard experimentation’ to leave Max Verstappen ‘in a better place’.
The Human Element: Pressure, Nerves, and Opportunity
What makes Baku’s FP3 so compelling isn’t just the speed—it’s the sense that anything can happen. For drivers on the cusp of a breakthrough, like Norris and Piastri, it’s a chance to seize momentum. For veterans like Hamilton, it’s a reminder that experience counts for little when the wind is howling and the walls are waiting.
And for the midfield, every yellow flag is an opportunity. In years past, we’ve seen AlphaTauri, Alpine, and even Williams threaten the established order, if only for a fleeting moment. Today, the field was tight, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes all within striking distance—a recipe for a qualifying session that could go down to the wire.
Quotes from the Paddock
Let’s wait for the third race before calling anyone a legend.
Pedro, Formula 1 BG
DRS doesn’t make you brave, it makes you pass.
Pedro, Formula 1 BG
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Baku’s FP3 Surprises (2017–2024)
A quick glance at the history books reveals just how unpredictable FP3 at Baku can be:
- 2017: Verstappen (Red Bull) fastest, but crashed out later in the weekend.
- 2018: Bottas (Mercedes) on top, but the session marred by crashes.
- 2021: Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) fastest, a rare sight in the hybrid era.
- 2024: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) fastest, foreshadowing his race win.
The lesson? Don’t read too much into FP3. But do read between the lines.
What Next? Qualifying Awaits
With qualifying just hours away, the stage is set for a showdown. Norris has the momentum, Verstappen has the pedigree, and Hamilton has the experience. The wind, as ever, will have the final say.
For live updates and the latest news, follow the session here: LIVE: 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku Qualifying.
Waste a Bit More Time
If you’re as addicted to Baku drama as I am, here are a few ways to procrastinate before qualifying:
- Read the full FP3 results and analysis: 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku Free Practice 3 results
- Watch the session highlights and expert breakdown: LIVE: Reaction as Norris sets ultimate pace in tricky Baku FP3
- Dive into Red Bull’s experimental woes: Red Bull reveal ‘hard experimentation’ to leave Max Verstappen ‘in a better place’
- For the social media crowd, check the Facebook chatter: Fastest in Practice 3 – F1 GP AZERBAIJAN
And remember: in Baku, the only certainty is uncertainty. See you after qualifying.
