For the 8th of the 22 rounds of the Formula 1 world championship, at the wheel of his Ferrari, Leclerc responded perfectly to the challenge launched by the Red Bulls of Mexican Sergio Pérez and Dutchman Max Verstappen.

The demanding urban circuit, a clever mix of long straights and tight turns, was exposed to the wind at the start of the afternoon for two sessions, putting the single-seaters to the test with a lot of rebound in the longest straight line (2 kilometres).

"Yes we suffered from it, especially on the braking. It can become complicated to brake with these bumps", underlined Sergio Pérez, author of the best time of the first session.

Mexican Sergio Perez, driving his Red Bull, during the first free practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, June 10, 2022 in the streets of Baku OZAN KOSE AFP

Two weeks after the "real disaster" of his fourth place at home at the Monaco Grand Prix, Leclerc still seems to have the right formula in the timed exercise, he who remains on three consecutive pole positions in Miami (Florida), Barcelona (Spain ) and Monaco.

The only small alert, problems with his engine reported by Leclerc to his engineers at the end of the second free practice session, to be watched for qualifying on Saturday afternoon and the race on Sunday.

Pérez ahead of Verstappen

Friday morning, he first set the second fastest time in the first free practice just over a tenth of a second from Pérez, before settling quite quickly in control of the second session.

He completed the fastest lap in 1 min 43 sec 224/1000th, more than 2/10th of a second faster than Pérez (+0.248).

“There were a lot of things to analyze after Monaco, where we made a lot of mistakes. What gives me confidence for the future is that we have found the reasons for these mistakes. good thing for the future", rejoiced Charles Leclerc.

Author of five pole positions out of seven possible this season, he will be favorite to settle at the top of the grid at the end of qualifying on Saturday at the end of the afternoon.

On the Red Bull side, Sergio Pérez confirmed his excellent form at the moment.

Winner of the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago, extended until 2024 within the stable with two bulls, he was faster than his teammate Max Verstappen in the two free practice sessions.

"It was a good day. The second free practice session was not as good as we would have liked," said Pérez.

"It seems that the Ferraris are quite quick over a lap. On the long streaks of laps it seems a bit more balanced, that's positive. Overall it wasn't a bad day, we just have to find small adjustments," explained Verstappen.

Dutchman Max Verstappen, driving his Red Bull, during the second free practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, June 10, 2022 in the streets of Baku NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA AFP

After a final free practice session on Saturday at the start of the afternoon (1:00 p.m. French time), qualifying is scheduled three hours later (4:00 p.m.).

With his Alpine, the Spaniard Fernando Alonso managed to interfere in the first four of the two inaugural free practice sessions, ahead of the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jr.

© 2022 AFP