Charles Leclerc tops FP2 despite early charges from Sergio Perez - Results

Charles Leclerc bounced back from early troubles to top the timesheets in the second practice session ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver, who faced issues following a crash in FP1, showcased his resilience by setting the fastest lap with just 15 minutes left in the session.

His final lap time put him a mere 0.006 seconds ahead of Sergio Perez of Red Bull, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton rounding off the top three. Leclerc's session did not begin smoothly. He pitted early after complaining of "bent" steering, a direct consequence of his earlier FP1 incident.

Upon returning to the track, he also misjudged a corner and ended up on an escape road. Despite these hiccups, Leclerc managed to recover and clock the best time of the session. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez, who finished second, had a near-miss with Carlos Sainz late in the session. The Red Bull driver expressed frustration, claiming Sainz impeded him at Turn 16. Notably, Lewis Hamilton finished third fastest.

Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen struggle!

Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance, securing fifth place, while reigning world champion Max Verstappen was notably off pace, ending the day in sixth and trailing Perez by over half a second. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll, whose first-ever F1 podium was secured in Azerbaijan, enjoyed a solid session, finishing in seventh place.

The Aston Martin driver looked comfortable on the track where he has historically performed well. Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Oliver Bearman also showed strong form, finishing in eighth and 10th respectively, with George Russell splitting them in ninth. Russell’s performance was hindered by a power unit change that delayed his session, and he was called back to the garage in the final minutes due to a car issue.

Elsewhere, Lando Norris struggled to complete a clean lap after being impeded by Pierre Gasly in the final sector. Gasly later cited a battery issue for the obstruction. Franco Colapinto also had a close call, narrowly avoiding a crash after clipping the wall at Turn 8.

Here is the final FP2 result: