George Russell Tops Final Practice in Azerbaijan as Bearman’s Crash Brings Red Flags
In the lead-up to the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the third and final practice session (FP3) was filled with excitement and unpredictability. George Russell of Mercedes delivered an impressive performance, setting the fastest lap of 1m 42.514s, narrowly beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.013 seconds. McLaren’s Lando Norris followed closely in third place, rounding off a competitive session ahead of the afternoon's qualifying.
Weather conditions in Baku had changed since Friday’s practice, as clouds and drizzle replaced the earlier sunny skies. Despite the slick Baku City Circuit being known for its tricky conditions, drivers navigated carefully, with many still struggling for grip. The day started relatively quiet, but it didn’t take long for the action to heat up.
Also Read:Esteban Ocon of Alpine faced mechanical issues, forcing his car to halt on the track early in the session, triggering the first red flag. After a brief delay, the session resumed, and soon the leaderboard saw rapid changes. Initially, Williams driver Alex Albon and rookie Franco Colapinto surprised everyone by leading the pack. However, as more drivers got their tires warmed up, Ferrari’s Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri began to shine, with Piastri briefly topping the timesheets with an impressive 1m 42.749s.
Drama unfolded when F2 driver Ollie Bearman, driving for Haas, crashed into the barriers at Turn 1. His attempt to recover after overcooking his entry into the corner resulted in significant front-left damage to his car, causing another red flag. The session paused again for recovery work, and Bearman’s frustration was evident as he apologized over the radio.
When the action resumed with just 20 minutes left, drivers switched to softer tires, leading to a flurry of fast laps. Leclerc, who had been quick all weekend, managed to lower the benchmark to 1m 42.564s, but George Russell was not done. In the final moments of FP3, Russell pushed his Mercedes to the limit, snatching the top spot with a stunning lap, edging out Leclerc by the smallest of margins.
The battle at the front wasn’t the only talking point. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen struggled to find the same pace he had in previous sessions, finishing in fifth behind McLaren’s Piastri. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez were involved in a close call near the end of the session, with Perez seemingly hindering Sainz at Turn 15, adding further tension to an already eventful practice.
As FP3 wrapped up, the focus now shifts to qualifying later today, with Russell’s late-session heroics positioning him as a key contender. The competition remains fierce, with just thousandths of a second separating the top drivers. While Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren seem poised for a thrilling battle, all eyes will also be on Bearman as he looks to bounce back after his crash and the grid takes shape for Sunday’s race.
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