P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren looked a handful and more vulnerable than usual in Friday practice in Baku – but what’s actually going on in the performance picture? Mark Hughes takes a closer look
During the Baku weekend, three crucial fundamental choices must be prioritized: wing level, tyre selection, and towing potential.
Unfortunately, the teams faced obstacles like the half-hour delay in FP1 due to a kerb issue and McLaren’s setbacks in FP2, with Lando Norris hitting the wall and missing out on crucial long runs.
Despite McLaren’s strong performance in FP1, where they outpaced the field by half a second, they struggled in FP2, trailing the pace-setting Ferraris by 1s, with Lewis Hamilton showing confidence by securing the fastest time.
The choice between high or low-downforce rear wing levels is pivotal at Baku, with a strategic dilemma between a defensive race from a high grid position or an attacking race from a lower grid spot.
Additionally, the value of a good tow down the 2km Caspian stretch cannot be overlooked, as shown by the significant advantage gained by Hamilton from Pierre Gasly’s tow.
The tyre selection further adds complexity, with Pirelli introducing the C6 to discourage one-stop races, yet teams balancing the performance of C5 and C6 compounds strategically throughout practices to maximize race pace.
