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Red flag! We\u2019re at a standstill again, after Nico H\u00fclkenberg collides with a wall at turn four. Piastri had just posted his first lap, and it\u2019s quicker than Leclerc \u2013 but Lewis Hamilton is the new leader, with Ferrari bringing their practice pace to qualifying so far.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Q1: Approaching the halfway mark of this stop-start session, where Lecelerc still leads with a lap time of 1:41.982. The Ferraris are on softs, while the McLarens and Red Bulls are on medium tyres.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Q1 resumes: Kimi Antonelli has his name taken for a yellow flag infringement \u2013 the Italian claims he didn\u2019t see the flag, but he may end up getting a grid penalty for that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Watching the various garages frantically tinker with their cars\u2019 setup, I feel a bit like I\u2019m live blogging a busy day at Kwik-Fit. Anyway, we\u2019re back under way \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Q1 paused: As we wait to resume in three minutes or so, Esteban Ocon is reporting that a fallen branch is caught under his rear tyre. All happening early on. Oscar Piastri didn\u2019t get time to post a full lap before the red flag for Albon, and will be eager to get back out there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Red flag! Alex Albon has clattered into a corner, damaged his front left tyre and is out of qualifying. The session has stopped with 11min 33sec to go; Charles Leclerc had just set a fastest time on red soft tyres.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Q1: Carlos Sainz is the early leader, with all 20 drivers now out on the circuit. The wind is blowing a fair bit of foliage and debris around, while Sauber\u2019s Nico H\u00fclkenberg almost clipped a wall and has posted the slowest time so far.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Q1 is under way<\/p>\n Early cars out on the track include the two Williams \u2013 but Oscar Piastri\u2019s McLaren won\u2019t be going anywhere just yet. Mechanics seem to be replacing something on the front of his car \u2013 still plenty of time for him to get through this first session though.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Azerbaijan GP secures calendar spot until 2030<\/p>\n The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will stay on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2030 after receiving a four-year contract extension. The contract for the street circuit had been due to expire after next year\u2019s race, but it has been confirmed today that a new deal has been agreed.<\/p>\n Azerbaijan was seen as a surprise venue on its debut in 2016 but has become known as one of F1\u2019s more unpredictable circuits. Off the track, holding a race here also raised concerns over the country\u2019s human rights record<\/a>. Amnesty has reported \u201ca sharp decline in respect for human rights\u201d in Azerbaijan over the last year.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.44 EDT<\/p>\n Here are the latest drivers\u2019 championship standings:<\/p>\n Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 324pts<\/p>\n Lando Norris (GB) McLaren 293pts<\/p>\n Max Verstappen (Neth) Red Bull 230pts<\/p>\n George Russell (GB) Mercedes 194pts<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc (Mon) 163pts<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton (GB) 117pts<\/p>\n Alexander Albon (Thai) 70pts<\/p>\n Kimi Antonelli (It) 66pts<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More on Saturday\u2019s final practice, where Lando Norris set the pace and winds picked up. The title-chasing British driver had a hefty bang into the wall which brought an early end to his running in Friday\u2019s second practice but his McLaren escaped without any significant damage.<\/p>\n Norris was the first of the front-running drivers on track on Saturday but swiftly complained that his car felt \u201csketchy\u201d. He initially struggled to find pace but surged to the top of the charts in the closing stages to end the session 0.222sec clear of Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n Championship leader Oscar Piastri, who like Norris also banged into the wall on Friday, had another troubled session as he narrowly avoided another collision with the barriers before also taking to the run-off area at turn one. The Australian, who leads Norris by 31 points in the standings, was third-fastest and over two tenths behind his teammate.<\/p>\n Baku lived up to its moniker as the \u201cCity of Winds\u201d as 20kmph gusts swept across the street circuit on the shores of the Caspian Sea.<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton, fastest on Friday, was fourth for Ferrari. His team-mate Charles Leclerc, who will bid for a fifth consecutive pole position in Baku, appeared to have genuine pace before a nudge against the wall and he ended the session down in 10th. PA Media<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n