F1

Charles Leclerc says there are still 'question marks' over the true formbook after topping the times in Friday practice for Formula 1's Azerbaijan GP.

"It was a solid day," said the Mexican. "We have work to do. "It was a good start to the day. "But we have good data with both tyres as well in the long run. We were just exploring, and it was just not coming, and we were not able to sort out our problems. "Actually, it was not a power unit problem," he explained. Asked if he expected a hard fight for pole with Red Bull, Leclerc said: "I think it will be.

Piastri has been made to bide his time as Alpine's reserve driver this year, despite winning three consecutive title in a stellar junior racing career. Stream ...

He’s crashing at most race weekends and he’s in a tricky place. “If you want to mature someone in Formula 1, like Piastri, then Alpine has set aside a decent budget for this: a budget to park him and get him used to Formula 1,” he said. With Alpine set to retain Ocon and Alonso as its driver line-up for 2023, Coronel said the team would be foolish not to give Piastri the chance to gain any experience he can in F1. And the opportunity to drive in F1 could happen sooner than anticipated, largely because of the underwhelming form of Nicholas Latifi at Williams. But the French-based team announced earlier this year it would allow Piastri to be loaned to another team with the goal of developing his craft before eventually returning to Alpine. Piastri has been made to bide his time as Alpine’s reserve driver this year, despite winning three consecutive title in a stellar junior racing career.

False dawn for F1 giants as Mercedes star fumes; Ferrari gun's ominous warning: Practice Wrap.

We seem fast on the straights and it’s sometimes a set-up compromise with this type of circuit, but let’s see how we go tomorrow.” AlphaTauri seems like it’s striking that compromise better despite lacking the headline times. The Baku track is punishing for engines given around three-quarters of the lap is spent at full throttle, and it’s little surprise Red Bull Racing has wheeled out fresh power units for both drivers this weekend. Russell’s clearly had enough of the infernal bouncing. “It’s crazy out there through those high-speed corners, the car’s fully bottoming out. “There was a difference between the cars. “Obviously we’ve seen it,” Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner told Sky Sports, “We’ve got the data from it. For one, both RBR drivers believe they made set-up errors on Friday afternoon, the rectification of which might swing momentum back in their favour. Some of that was down to the bouncing, of which George Russell has clearly had enough. Red Bull Racing battled rear wing problems on Verstappen’s car in first practice. He even beat the Bulls in the speed trap. “Weight is always a critical factor, you’re obviously chasing that all over the car,” Horner said.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fastest during an incident-packed Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice on Friday, the eighth round of the 2022 Formula 1 World ...

Perez went off again, this time botching the laps of Verstappen and Sainz who were running behind him. Sainz was fifth, relying on his earlier medium-tyre time, ahead of Gasly. Leclerc then locked up and overshot Turn 8. AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly also suffered a huge lock-up but didn’t hit anything. Red Bull’s world championship leader Max Verstappen set the early pace on mediums at 1m46.477s on mediums, 0.068s ahead of Perez. Ferrari initially ran the hard tyre, with Leclerc in P3 but over half a second off the pace. Red Bull’s Monaco winner Sergio Perez was fastest in FP1 but was beaten in FP2 by Leclerc, who was almost a quarter of a second quicker than the Mexican.

Join us as we delve in for a second helping of the new and interesting technical features on display up and down the pitlane as teams prepare for the ...

Also note the teardrop-shaped flap pivot, which is angled for better flow management and has a split line within for when DRS is deployed and the wing opens. Note how it has chopped out a section of the trailing edge of the rear wing’s upper flap to reduce drag. Haas has also added a Gurney flap to the trailing edge to help balance the car.

Seeing its place on the Formula 1 calendar threatened by the sport's expansionism, Spa's Belgian Grand Prix is grabbing its last chance to try and convince ...

Whether all of that is enough to wow F1 and be awarded with a new contract remains to be seen. It's a big plus that they'll be able to experience it first-hand in August." "It's happened before that we headed into a grand prix without having certainty about the following year, so it's not a big issue. If we want to continue hosting races in the future, we have to modernise." "We are planning all sorts of entertainment, with DJs, exclusive events, fans zones and activations around the circuit. We have decided to listen and follow their new way of delivering F1 events.

The Baku City Circuit represents a unique challenge for the teams, given the opposing requirements on downforce levels for the different parts of the track.

As a consequence, the front wing has new rearward elements to reduce their chord length and incidence level to help balance the car. Red Bull had already modified its front brake and caliper arrangement for Monaco and has made further changes in Baku to improve cooling. Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Valtteri Bottas says his 15th place in Friday practice for Formula 1's Azerbaijan GP is not representative and that new parts will boost Alfa Romeo's ...

"There's a clear picture of where we need to improve and that just will gain so much more speed. "And I think today the main focus is that as a team, we need to just find some more speed. "It was a struggle, but we sort of like figured out what happened after the weekend. It's quite a sensitive track, but once you get the set-up right, then you can find quite a lot of laptime." "But I think we learned quite a bit with the set-up. We did quite a lot of set-up changes today, and towards the end, it was getting much better."

Charles Leclerc went quickest in Friday practice for Ferrari at the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Here's how and when to watch qualifying.

For the entire 2022 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.98 or a month membership of £33.99 per month. Coverage of Azerbaijan GP qualifying will start at 3:00pm BST on the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sounds app. Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2022 F1 season will be available on the BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra or via the BBC Sport website. Live streaming through NOW is also available in the UK. In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 is broadcasting highlights of qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP at 10:05pm BST on Saturday. The full programme will run for 90 minutes, covering both qualifying and wrapping up the major talking points of the race weekend so far.

Daniel Ricciardo insists he is not complacent about his Formula 1 future at McLaren, despite being told he has the full support of the team.

At the end of the day, I guess I know the facts between us and what I have with the team. And I do truly believe that I have the full support of the team and we want to do it together. "I know that some things are taken out of context. "We've spoke," he said, when asked by Autosport if he had discussed things with Brown since the media reports emerged. And I want to enjoy that success with the team. My results, I want them to be better.

Australia is clearly well aware of the speculation Daniel Ricciardo's Formula One career is in serious turmoil.

“So yeah, it’s fun, and I have no issue with people talking because I haven’t really done anything spectacular this year. “Part of me loves it. “So I know that there is obviously chatter and let’s say certainly some noise at the moment, but for me, it’s like, a good reason to in a way like push back and just to remind people, but first and foremost, like remind myself that I can still do it, so I have no doubts. “Because I mean, one thing I love about this sport and I think trying to get to the top of something, you’re always going to be under the spotlight – and there’s always going to be that attention, that pressure, and when you can execute under those circumstances, it’s one of the most powerful and rewarding feelings. “We have not only the ultimate belief that Daniel will continue to smash it in the world of F1 and beyond, but additionally know that the power of an entire nation gunning for you and having your back is the best dose of optimism we can give. Ricciardo has struggled in his second campaign at McLaren and has finished in the points just once out of seven races so far this season.

Daniel Ricciardo revealed he has “clarity” over his position with McLaren after holding crunch talks with team CEO Zak Brown.

“I’ve maybe become a little immune to the media, with being in the sport for so long. “I don’t really take it for its full value or worth, and some things are taken out of context, so I’m not really one to go into it, read too much and try and understand it. “The clarity is there for us moving forward, my contract is clear with the team for next year, I’m fully committed, I’ve certainly voiced that.

The first free practice is over in Azerbaijan and that means that FP2 is already around the corner. At 15:00hrs UK time the lights will turn green and the ...

Especially with this year's budget cap of $140 million, inflation and the fact that the car must be repaired again on Saturday, no one will be hoping for red flags. The teams are always looking for the middle ground between a fast car in qualifying or a fast car in the race. All teams will be hoping that their drivers don't end up with their car in the wall.

It's Friday, June 10, and that means the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is about to begin. After a week of recharging at home, the Formula 1 drivers get back ...

The differences between the F1-75 and RB18 are minimal so it promises to be an exciting battle. Ferrari and Red Bull Racing will under normal circumstances again be deciding who will take victory on the Baku street circuit. Starting at 12:00hrs UK time, the drivers will get their first 60 minutes to work on the perfect set-up of their own car.

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin says Mercedes 'needs fundamental improvements' after struggling massively during Friday practice for ...

We're facing the same problems as in the last race. We did have some new parts on the car today, so we'll review whether those were contributing to our issues. "We've got a bit of work to do to find time on single lap and long run.

Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Sky Sports' Any Driven Monday, in part, “Daniel is just not comfortable yet with the car, we're ...

“I think stripping it back to the core, I still know what I can do, I still believe I have it and it’s not, you know, it’s not like a place of like low confidence or low self-esteem or anything, where I’m like, ‘I don’t think it’s possible,’” Ricciardo said. So it’s really just for me to get back into that place where I’m in tune, fully in tune, with the car and then it’ll come.” And I do truly believe that I have the full support of the team and we want to do it together.”

Baku plays host to the eighth round of the 2022 Formula 1 season. Here's how you can watch the 2022 Azerbaijan GP qualifying.

Viewers from selected countries can subscribe to F1 TV to stream qualifying on a device of their choice. - Denmark - TV3 / TV3 Sport / Viaplay Can’t find your country or region in the list?