Lewis Hamilton vs Charles Leclerc in Baku: braking confidence and Ferrari’s search for the right downforce. Lewis Hamilton shines in Baku with improved braking confidence.

Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull prepare for a tight fight in qualifying at the Azerbaijan GP

The streets of Baku always deliver surprises, and this Friday was no exception. With its close walls and extreme speeds, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix often produces unpredictable scenarios. This time, it was Lando Norris who paid the price. A mistake early in the session compromised the rest of his running, leaving him short of valuable data and without the confidence that is essential on such a demanding street circuit. Before the incident, Norris had set the fastest time in the middle sector, proving that McLaren has the pace. Oscar Piastri also ended the session without a clean flying lap, cutting his final attempt short to return to the pits. Combined with issues in the morning session, the impression remains that McLaren has the potential to dominate, but the tricky nature of the Baku track means rivals still have hope.

Ferrari makes progress, do the new brake ducts help Hamilton?

Ferrari emerged as the main challenger to McLaren on Friday. The Scuderia showed strong overall performance, particularly in top speed, braking stability, and corner entry. Lewis Hamilton looked especially confident and quick. Data highlighted a clear difference in setup between the two Ferrari drivers, confirming what images had already suggested: the seven-time world champion was running with higher downforce compared to Charles Leclerc. This setup may cost top speed on the straights, but it provided Hamilton with superior rear-end stability, more traction, and greater speed through almost every corner.

Another key factor could be Ferrari’s new technical update. As reported earlier, the team introduced its first upgrade of the Fred Vasseur era at the Baku weekend, specifically on the front wheel assembly with revised brake cooling ducts. While it is unclear whether these changes go beyond the ducts themselves, the timing coincides with Hamilton showing significantly more confidence under braking than earlier this season. He was able to carry braking deeper into corners without sacrificing precision on turn-in, a clear improvement compared to previous races. The reward was evident on the stopwatch: Hamilton ended Friday fastest, ahead of Charles Leclerc, the acknowledged master of this circuit.

Charles Leclerc, by contrast, was running with less aerodynamic load, gaining speed on the straights and excelling in the tight and twisty castle section. However, he struggled to match Lewis Hamilton’s traction and pace through the 90-degree corners in the first half of the lap, particularly between Turns 3 and 7. The gap was also visible at Turn 15, where Hamilton’s higher downforce allowed him to carry 8 km/h more minimum speed compared to his teammate. With rain expected overnight to wash rubber from the track, Ferrari’s engineers may be tempted to favor Hamilton’s higher-downforce setup for qualifying.

Mercedes and Verstappen close to Ferrari’s pace

Mercedes also enjoyed a positive Friday. The Brackley team focused on maximizing mechanical traction, opting for lower downforce but ensuring strong corner exits. Their approach recalls the early-season setup philosophy, suggesting a full reversal on rear suspension concepts and a return to their baseline configurations. On a track where traction is crucial, the W16’s low ride height and reduced wing levels make sense. George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli appear close to Ferrari’s performance, although tire overheating remains a concern. Their low-downforce setup tends to push tire temperatures too high in the final sector, requiring the long main straight to cool them down. This may hurt consistency over a race distance, so Mercedes may soften their aggressive setup for Sunday.

Red Bull, despite not topping the timesheets, looked solid in race trim. Max Verstappen’s RB21 appeared stable and consistent over longer stints, needing refinement for single-lap performance but showing a strong baseline. Unlike previous weekends, no major setup overhauls seem necessary.

McLaren ahead on paper, but the fight is open

Overall, McLaren still seems to hold an advantage, especially given their performance in FP1 and their strong management of tire temperatures. With Baku’s combination of long straights and heavy braking zones, that strength could be decisive. However, Norris’s crash and Piastri’s disrupted session mean their setup optimization is behind schedule. This could leave room for Ferrari, Mercedes, and Verstappen to close the gap. The battle for pole position looks wide open, and Saturday’s final practice will reveal whether today’s impressions are confirmed or if new surprises are waiting in Baku.