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Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
F1 Azerbaijan GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & Qualifying
Friday's action from the fourth round of the 2023 Formula 1 season
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F1 heads to Baku this weekend for round four of the 2023 championship, with Max Verstappen leading the standings from team-mate Sergio Perez.
The weekend will follow a different format, with a single free practice session on Friday followed by qualifying for Sunday's grand prix.
Saturday now features a shorter sprint qualifying 'shootout' for the afternoon's sprint race, meaning drivers will get thrown right into competitive action in the morning without a practice session to warm up.
FP1 starts at 10.30am BST, with Qualifying getting underway at 2pm BST.
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Leclerc does now improve to go fastest! It's a 1m41.037s for the Ferrari driver to go a tenth clear of Perez.
Hamilton is in the danger zone in 10th, but it seems the Mercedes drivers were on used rubber for their opening efforts.
Sainz does now set a time and it's good enough for fifth.
Sainz, meanwhile, backed off on that lap so still doesn't have a time on the board. Alonso has improved and is now just two tenths behind the leading Red Bull in fourth.
Leclerc now puts in his time and it's a 1m41.216s and is less than a tenth of a second behind Perez. Has Red Bull got a real threat for pole here?
Norris is still in the garage, meanwhile. His team-mate Piastri is currently ninth.
Stopwatch
Now it's Red Bull back to the front as Perez puts in a 1m41.131s to beat team-mate Verstappen by just 0.06s.
Stopwatch
Albon is the first to set a time and it's a 1m42.203s, but that is quickly obliterated by Alonso - who puts in a 1m41.400s to go top.
Alonso goes purple in the first sector but the Ferraris are only just heading out now.
The Red Bulls now join the party as well - again, everyone is on the soft rubber.
It's just the Ferraris, Red Bulls and Norris who have yet to venture out.
Once again, there's another big queue of cars wanting to head out and try to get a time on the boards.
Green flag
So, that was hectic! And now Q2 is under way!
As has been the norm in 2023, the margins were tiny in that session, with Zhou being just 0.02s slower than Ocon in the all-important 15th spot.
Hamilton is another one to glance the wall in that session, replays show, but it was not a major hit for the Merc.
Alonso also climbed up to third right at the end to go three tenths clear of the Mercedes drivers.
Amid the improvements at the bottom, Leclerc jumped up to first place with a 1m41.269s to go a tenth quicker than Verstappen. But worth noting the Dutchman pitted early.
It's only taken the 45 minutes, but we now know who has progressed from Q1!
So, out in Q1 are Zhou, Hulkenberg, Magnussen (engine woes), Gasly (crashed) and de Vries (crashed).
And, crucially, the Alfas both improve. Bottas sneaks through but Zhou joins Hulkenberg in being eliminated.
Russell also leaps up to fourth to go quicker than his team-mate while Sainz is eighth.
Yes, Sargeant jumps up to eighth, just a tenth slower than his team-mate. Good effort.
Checkered flag
The chequered flag is now out - will there be any late improvements?
Great effort, once again, for Albon as he's currently sixth for Williams, while team-mate Sargeant is on the bubble in 15th.
With Magnussen now joining Gasly and de Vries on the sidelines, it's the two Alfa Romeos that are in danger of joining them in failing to make Q2.
Ocon now joins his team-mate in hitting the wall, but it's the lightest of glancing blows at Turn 15 and he continues on his way.
Leclerc improves his time now but remains third and is four tenths adrift of Vetstappen, but just a tenth behind Perez.
But someone in trouble is Magnussen as he's told to pit the car as Haas' reliability gremlins continue to be a problem.
Russell goes eighth and Sainz ninth as they attempt to get out of trouble.
Stopwatch
But Verstappen instantly reclaims top spot with a 1m41.398s as Hamilton moves to fourth.
Stopwatch
Here come the improvements as Perez goes top with a 1m41.756s!
We mentioned that Sainz is yet to post a time but Russell is another one who needs to improve as he's only 15th currently.
So, there are five minutes to go as the drivers finally begin some hot laps.
All 18 of the undamaged cars are now out on track again - will they all keep it out of the walls this time?
Green flag
We're green again - seven minutes remain on the Q1 clock.
And we have another almighty traffic jam in the pits as the drivers queue up for the restart. Will it be third time lucky for a red-flag free Q1 run?
Gasly was 18th at the time of his crash, so both him and de Vries are definitely out of Q2 here.
Race control now says the session will resume at 1737 local time - so in three minutes.
Leclerc asks to have a darkened visor but is told he already has the darkest! With Verstappen also complaining about the low sun, it's just another thing for the drivers to contend with. Mind you, at this rate, it will be dark before we're finished...
So, we've still got seven minutes left on the clock but Sainz is still yet to set a time and the Spaniard is under pressure here while his team-mate is looking strong up in second place.
By: Autosport Staff
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