Lando Norris fastest in lengthy red-flagged FP1 at Azerbaijan Grand Prix
19th September 2025McLaren’s Lando Norris has started his weekend with the fastest lap in Free Practice 1 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite a lengthy 20-minute red flag break.
Feature image credit: McLaren Racing
It was a partly cloudy start to the weekend, with temperatures around 24° at the Baku Street Circuit, and it was a busy start to the session as Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was the first to head out onto the circuit.
Whilst yellow flags plagued the session as the drivers opted to utilise the escape road rather than hit the wall, there was trouble in the McLaren garage.
After Lando Norris was called back into the pits to remove a cover from the car’s front sensor, Oscar Piastri was called into the pits after 10 minutes, and the McLaren mechanics went to work on the championship leader’s car.
It was not the start McLaren would’ve hoped for in a weekend where they could clinch the world constructors’ championship.
The red flag was waved after 15 minutes as there was debris left out on the track on the final proper corner in Baku, turn 16.
It was revealed that the debris was not carbon fibre, as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly had reported, but rather a chunk of rubber from under the kerb, which was exacerbated by Williams’ Carlos Sainz, who ran over it.
After just over 20 minutes, the session was resumed with 21 minutes left on the clock. Additionally, Piastri’s problem was resolved during the red flag, and he was back out on the circuit with everyone else.
How did FP1 finish?
- Lando Norris, McLaren – 1m 42.704s
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren +0.310s
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +0.552s
- George Russell, Mercedes +0.553s
- Alexander Albon, Williams +0.859s
- Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing +1.034s
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing +1.086s
- Carlos Sainz, Williams +1.155s
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +1.199s
- Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls +1.271s
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes +1.281s
- Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber +1.282s
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari +1.383s
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber +1.383s
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +1.435s
- Oliver Bearman, Haas +1.447s
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +1.625s
- Esteban Ocon, Haas +1.735s
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine +2.595s
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine +2.714s
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Oliver Bearman will ‘take into account’ his points ahead of Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- ‘What happened is done’ says Oscar Piastri after Italian GP team orders
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix: the schedule and timings
- F1 reveal sprint calendar with one iconic venue absent
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix: The latest weather report for Baku
- How Oliver Bearman is nearing race ban in rookie F1 season
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
