Baku Blitz: Russell Edges Leclerc in Final Practice, Bearman's Mishap Shakes Up Azerbaijan GP Preparations

George Russell emerged as the frontrunner in the final practice session (FP3) for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, narrowly outpacing Charles Leclerc. The session saw McLaren and Mercedes closing the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying round.

Russell's Late Surge to the Top

Despite experiencing power unit issues and handling problems throughout much of the session, Russell managed to clock the fastest lap with a time of 1m42.514s. This impressive performance came as a surprise, considering the challenges he faced earlier. Leclerc, who had shown consistent improvement during the session, fell short by a mere 0.013 seconds, settling for second place.

A Disrupted Start to FP3

The session got off to a slow start, with drivers initially completing installation laps due to light rain. An early red flag was caused by Esteban Ocon's Alpine stopping on the track, resulting in a 10-minute delay. Once the session resumed, Oscar Piastri set the initial benchmark with a time of 1m45.476s on fresh soft tires.

Changing Fortunes and Multiple Red Flags

As the session progressed, the lead changed hands multiple times. Alex Albon briefly held the top spot before another red flag interruption caused by Oliver Bearman's incident at Turn 1. Lando Norris and Leclerc also had their moments at the front before Russell's late charge.

McLaren's Strong Showing

The McLaren duo of Piastri and Norris demonstrated impressive pace, finishing third and fourth respectively. Piastri, in particular, stood out with a stunning lap that put him 0.64 seconds clear of the field at one point, showcasing the team's potential for the upcoming qualifying session.

Red Bull and Ferrari in the Mix

Despite not topping the timesheets, Red Bull and Ferrari remained competitive. Max Verstappen finished fifth, while Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz occupied the sixth and seventh positions. The close competition among the top teams suggests an intense battle for pole position in qualifying.

Conclusion

As FP3 concluded, the stage was set for a thrilling qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. With Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull all showing competitive pace, the fight for pole position promises to be a closely contested affair. The unexpected performance variations and technical challenges faced by some drivers add an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming sessions.