Max Verstappen sets the pace in final practice at Baku, heading Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton as qualifying preparations sharpen late in the hour.

Red Bull times its push for the closing minutes. Verstappen exploits a powerful tow on the 2km straight to deliver a 1:43.922, while Mercedes impresses on medium-tyre pace.

The session builds steadily. Alpine shows early speed but lags Friday’s reference times from earlier practice running as the frontrunners switch to qualifying simulations.

Slipstream execution dominates programmes. Teams rehearse tows repeatedly, knowing track position and timing across the long main straight can swing tenths in qualifying.

Rising winds complicate operations. A brief virtual safety car follows a tree branch blowing onto the racing line, underlining the street track’s susceptibility to gusts.

Verstappen reports heavy bouncing, likening the car to “jumping like a kangaroo,” and runs deep at Turn 15 as several drivers use escape roads.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli briefly leads before Russell stamps authority on mediums with 1:44.715, then 1:44.177 and 1:44.021. A Turn 1 lock-up and Turn 7 overshoot halt further gains.

Hamilton slots third, backing up Mercedes’ balance through the lap despite blustery conditions, after a week that already spotlighted Hamilton’s challenges.

Antonelli ends fourth after his early headline time, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc next and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly closely matched on softs.

McLaren’s low-speed upgrade package needs more refinement. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris take seventh and eighth, echoing concerns from Norris’s practice reflections.

Isack Hadjar places ninth in the second Red Bull after a tidy run plan, while Alpine’s Franco Colapinto completes the top ten.

The competitive picture remains tight. Mercedes’ medium-tyre strength contrasts with Red Bull’s tow efficiency, leaving pole wide open heading into qualifying and the weekend preview narrative intact.

Visual Summary

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.