LEWIS HAMILTON and Max Verstappen head to Azerbaijan as they do battle again in an enthralling F1 campaign.
Hamilton had been in control of the championship but slipped behind Verstappen after a seventh placed finish in Monaco.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Grand Prix has been AXED from the 2021 calendar due to Covid.
Get all the latest F1 updates from Baku here…
- Ben Hunt
FIVE MINUTES TO GO
Russell, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Tsunoda and Ocon in the drop zone.
- Ben Hunt
HERE IS THE INCIDENT INVOLVING NORRIS
- Ben Hunt
BUSY TRACK – MISTAKES ARE COSTLY IN BAKU
We have had two red flags already. The record for qualifying is four. We are halfway there.
- Ben Hunt
Q2 IS GO
Can Mercedes make it into the top 10? They should do, but accidents could pay their part.
- Ben Hunt
Q1 IS DONE
Stroll, Giovinnazi, Mazepin, Schumacher and Latifi are out at the first hurdle.
Hamilton eventually tops the session, but it was a scrappy one. Norris also under investigation for missing the pitlane when the red flag was deployed.
- Ben Hunt
IN THE DROP ZONE
Schumacher, Mazepin and Russell. Stroll and Giovinazzi are already out.
Four minutes to go.
- Ben Hunt
RESTART AS Q1 IS GO AGAIN AFTER TWO RED FLAGS
Nine minutes to go of this session. The wind has picked up now and it is going to tough to get those quick laps in.
- Ben Hunt
RED FLAG – ANTONIO GIOVINAZZI HAS CRASHED
The Alfa Romeo man is in the wall at Turn 15. This spot is catching lots of drivers out.
He is OUT of qualifying. The session is stopped again.
- Ben Hunt
WE ARE QUALIFYING AGAIN
A busy track as drivers look not to get caught out by another red flag.
- Ben Hunt
LANCE STROLL HAS A CRASH – RED FLAG
The Canadian hits the wall at turn 15. He went in too fast and he has broken his front right wheel.
He is out of qualifying. His Aston Martin is broken. It also means all the other drivers have to abort their flying laps.
Stroll apologises to his team over the radio and will start tomorrow's race in last place.
- Ben Hunt
GO GO GO. GREEN LIGHT FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE AZERBAIJAN GP
Will this be a Red Bull lock out? Or will Ferrari keep up their pace from Monaco?
Mercedes are on the back foot, it could be a tough session in Baku for Hamilton and Bottas.
Expect plenty of drama and yellow flags, this is going to be a busy qualifying session.
- Ben Hunt
TOTO WOLFF LASHES OUT AT CHRISTIAN HORNER
The Mercedes boss is feeling the heat and blasted the Red Bull man after Horner said Wolff should "keep his mouth shut" over the flexi-wing row.
Wolff has responded saying: "Christian is a bit of a windbag who wants to be on camera.
"It is easy to be punchy when you are on top of the timesheets but you should be a little bit more modest."
- Ben Hunt
GEORGE RUSSELL'S PROBLEM IN FP3 WAS A WATER LEAK
His Williams team have been working hard to fix the issue, but it was not oil leaking from his car, as first feared.
It is now a race against time to get it fixed in time for qualifying.
- Kostas Lianos
WHAT A RUSS
Max Verstappen and Red Bull weren't the only ones who suffered some heartbreak in Baku.
George Russell endured a rather worrying engine issue in his Williams towards the end of final practice.
- Alex Terrell
DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY
World champ leader Verstappen had to have his car towed away in Baku.
It's just under 45 minutes till qualifying now.
Credit: Splash Credit: Splash
- Kostas Lianos
VERSTAPPEN CRASH
Here is how Red Bull star Max Verstappen crashed in the practice session.
Verstappen was completely disappointed after the incident
- Kostas Lianos
TABLES
Pierre Gasly set a surprise fastest time for AlphaTauri whereas Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton finished third in a hugely-eventful final practice session in Baku where Max Verstappen crashed.
1) Pierre Gasly
2) Sergio Perez
3) Lewis Hamilton
4) Charles Leclerc
5) Carlos Sainz
6) Lando Norris
7) Fernando Alonso
8) Yuki Tsunoda
9) Esteban Ocon
10) Daniel Ricciardo
11) Sebastian Vettel
12) Lance Stroll
13) Valtteri Bottas
14) Kimi Raikkonen
15) Max Verstappen
16) Nicholas Latifi
17) Antonio Giovinazzi
18) George Russell
19) Mick Schumacher
20) Nikita Mazepin
- Ben Hunt
RUSSELL HAS A PROBLEM TOO
The Williams man grinds to a halt as his car suffers a mechanical failure. He is out of this session.
- Ben Hunt
BAD NEWS FOR BOTTAS
The Mercedes man is back in the garage in 18th place.
- Kostas Lianos
VERSTAPPEN CRASH
Red Bull star Max Verstappen crashed nose first into the barriers and broke off his front wing and the track rods.
Verstappen is in the barriers at Turn 15 and has broken his steering. His front left wheel locked up and he was unable to make the turn.
Credit: AFP Credit: Splash Credit: EPA Credit: PA Credit: PA - Ben Hunt
LATIFI AND SAINZ ALSO GET CAUGHT AT TURN 15
No major damage for the Williams or Ferrari man, who bail out into the service road.
- Ben Hunt
HAMILTON GETS IN A FLYING LAP
But it is only quick enough for 13th place.
Gulp.
- Ben Hunt
WE ARE GO AGAIN
A little over 22 minutes to go. This is going to be a busy end to the session.
- Ben Hunt
RED FLAG STILL IN PLACE
The clock is ticking down as Verstappen's Red Bull is removed from the track. This is eating into Mercedes' time to sort their problems out.
- Ben Hunt
CRASH FOR VERSTAPPEN – SESSION RED FLAGGED
He is in the barriers at Turn 15 and has broken his steering. His front left wheel locked up and he was unable to make the turn.
He planted nose first into the barriers and broken off his front wing and the track rods.
Source: Read Full Article