P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Russell causes Azerbaijan surprise as red flags again create issues
During the practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, George Russell surprised everyone by setting the fastest lap time, surpassing Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.013s. Despite facing engine issues with his Mercedes, Russell managed to secure the top spot on the timesheet in the final moments of the session. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri followed closely behind, with Max Verstappen coming in fifth. The practice session was fraught with red flags, one caused by Esteban Ocon’s Alpine breaking down and another by Oliver Bearman’s crash at Turn 1. These interruptions disrupted the flow of the session, leading to limited track time for the teams. Despite the challenges faced during the session, drivers were able to showcase their skills and set competitive lap times as they prepared for qualifying.
