Red Bull lead practice after Perez crash

2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix first practice

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Red Bull headed first practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in a sessions which was disrupted by a heavy crash for Sergio Perez.

The Force India driver hit the barrier heading into the narrowest section of track at turn eight. The impact tore a wheel off his VJM10 and forced a ten-minute interruption to the session while the marshals struggled to remove his damaged car.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice in pictures
Shortly prior to that Max Verstappen had set what turned out to be the quicker time of the session. The Red Bull driver chipped away at his time on super-soft tyres and ended up over two seconds quicker than the best lap from the same session last year.

Team mate Daniel Ricciardo made it a Red Bull one-two. But Sebastian Vettel was just a tenth off Ricciardo’s time despite using the harder soft compound tyres.

Perez at least served notice of Force India’s potential before his crash by setting the fourth-fastest time. He was backed up by team mate Esteban Ocon in seventh position.

The pair were separated by the two Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton had been quickest earlier in the session, but they along with several other drivers had their final runs disrupted by the red flag.

The Toro Rosso drivers spent most of the session performing occasional installation laps. However Daniil Kvyat’s late effort was good enough for tenth behind Felipe Massa’s Williams and the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen.

Pos.No.DriverCarBest lapGapLaps
133Max VerstappenRed Bull-TAG Heuer1’44.41019
23Daniel RicciardoRed Bull-TAG Heuer1’44.8800.47022
35Sebastian VettelFerrari1’44.9670.55720
411Sergio PerezForce India-Mercedes1’45.3980.98816
544Lewis HamiltonMercedes1’45.4971.08716
677Valtteri BottasMercedes1’45.7371.32719
731Esteban OconForce India-Mercedes1’45.7521.34224
819Felipe MassaWilliams-Mercedes1’45.9681.55825
97Kimi RaikkonenFerrari1’46.0001.59018
1026Daniil KvyatToro Rosso-Renault1’46.6172.20711
1118Lance StrollWilliams-Mercedes1’46.6492.23928
1220Kevin MagnussenHaas-Ferrari1’46.7212.31123
138Romain GrosjeanHaas-Ferrari1’46.8372.42722
1427Nico HulkenbergRenault1’47.2172.80721
152Stoffel VandoorneMcLaren-Honda1’47.4463.03622
1655Carlos Sainz JnrToro Rosso-Renault1’47.5013.09113
1714Fernando AlonsoMcLaren-Honda1’47.5513.14120
1830Jolyon PalmerRenault1’48.5254.11515
1994Pascal WehrleinSauber-Ferrari1’49.0484.63819
209Marcus EricssonSauber-Ferrari1’49.9375.52721

First practice visual gaps

Max Verstappen – 1’44.410

+0.470 Daniel Ricciardo – 1’44.880

+0.557 Sebastian Vettel – 1’44.967

+0.988 Sergio Perez – 1’45.398

+1.087 Lewis Hamilton – 1’45.497

+1.327 Valtteri Bottas – 1’45.737

+1.342 Esteban Ocon – 1’45.752

+1.558 Felipe Massa – 1’45.968

+1.590 Kimi Raikkonen – 1’46.000

+2.207 Daniil Kvyat – 1’46.617

+2.239 Lance Stroll – 1’46.649

+2.311 Kevin Magnussen – 1’46.721

+2.427 Romain Grosjean – 1’46.837

+2.807 Nico Hulkenberg – 1’47.217

+3.036 Stoffel Vandoorne – 1’47.446

+3.091 Carlos Sainz Jnr – 1’47.501

+3.141 Fernando Alonso – 1’47.551

+4.115 Jolyon Palmer – 1’48.525

+4.638 Pascal Wehrlein – 1’49.048

+5.527 Marcus Ericsson – 1’49.937

Drivers more then ten seconds off the pace omitted.

Best times by tyre

DriverTeamBest super-soft timeSuper-soft gapBest soft timeSoft gapBest medium timeMedium gap
Lewis HamiltonMercedes1’45.5481.1381’45.4970.537’58.096371.642
Valtteri BottasMercedes1’45.7371.3271’47.0652.0985’59.096252.642
Daniel RicciardoRed Bull1’44.8800.477’04.096319.1291’46.9920.538
Max VerstappenRed Bull1’44.410None1’46.454
Sebastian VettelFerrariNone1’44.9674’50.096183.642
Kimi RaikkonenFerrariNone1’46.0001.0336’33.096286.642
Sergio PerezForce India1’45.3980.9881’46.2951.328None
Esteban OconForce India1’45.7521.3421’46.8921.925None
Felipe MassaWilliamsNone1’45.9681.00115’28.096821.642
Lance StrollWilliamsNone1’46.6491.6828’12.096385.642
Fernando AlonsoMcLaren1’47.5513.141None2’01.52215.068
Stoffel VandoorneMcLaren1’47.4463.036None2’31.10144.647
Carlos Sainz JnrToro Rosso1’47.5013.0914’25.096160.129None
Daniil KvyatToro Rosso1’46.6172.2075’13.096208.129None
Romain GrosjeanHaasNone1’46.8371.874’47.096180.642
Kevin MagnussenHaasNone1’46.7211.7544’32.096165.642
Nico HulkenbergRenaultNone1’47.2172.252’47.07260.618
Jolyon PalmerRenaultNone1’48.5253.5583’10.48384.029
Marcus EricssonSauber1’49.9375.527None1’52.7866.332
Pascal WehrleinSauber1’49.0484.638NoneNone

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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20 comments on “Red Bull lead practice after Perez crash”

  1. But Sebastian Vettel was just a tenth off Ricciardo’s time despite using the harder soft compound tyres.

    This is the most important sentence of this news item.

    1. Not really. Ferrari struggled throughout the session and had to go out again on the soft while everyone else was on super soft to get it right. Vetted only set this time at the very end.

      On another note the Mercedes seems to be struggling to get the super softs turned on. Hamilton did not improve his time on super softs before the red flag while verstappen did in the same number of laps.

  2. Are redbull faster than the Mercedes and force india?, and what tyres where the force indias in?

  3. They really should have invested in one Monaco type crane at that section. Any problems in the race at all and it will be a red flag.

    In addition, what’s with the tether failure especially with such a low force. Forget Halo and the shield, this is where the time and effort should be going.

    1. @john-h Did the tether break? It looked like the entire suspension assembly came off with the wheel.

      1. Hans (@hanswesterbeek)
        23rd June 2017, 11:50

        @John-h @keithcollantine Are the (rear) wheels tethered to the suspension, or to the chassis and/or gearbox?

        1. @hanswesterbeek @keithcollantine

          Technical reg 10.3.6 states that each wheel has two tethers, with only one per suspension member. The rear tethers should be fixed to the gearbox, with the two attachment points separated by at least 100mm. This distance seems a little small to me, because even if a small section of the gearbox is wiped out both tethers will effectively fail.

          As the tethers themselves can take 70kN, I presume its the connection points that have failed. It also makes me think Perez will need a new gearbox!

          1. I gotta say… its great that people like you exist @john-h

      2. @keithcollantine well if that means that the wheel may come lose than what exactly is the point of having tethers? Surely that would be a rather big design flaw.

      3. WOW
        F1fanatics removed my comment that FIA fire warning about oil-burning issue!!!
        Well done @keithcollantine

    2. With that crash, and so much debris, it would be a red flag in the race whether there’s a crane there or not. Though I do agree they need a more effective way of getting rid of the car – it was a 14 minute or so red flag period.

      1. Indeed. I think with that crash you’re right it would be a red flag anyway.

        In theory though, a more minor incident could be cleared under a SC without stopping the race (say a broken down car parked on the right just after the chicane). It does seem a little strange that the FIA let them get away with that part of the track without adequate provisions akin to Monaco.

  4. Thankyou, f1fanatic I think your website is very very interesting. And the comments are making it more interesting. Keith, Will thankyou thankyou very much. Let’s get started I am not bias but Honest about all drivers. .

    1 So far the 2017 season has been amazing and I’m enjoying the fight between Ham and Vet

    2 Baku isn’t a very exciting track,According to last year but lets hope it is gonna be better this time.

    3 It is said Baku is a horse power track so it will be a bit difficult for Vettel.

    4 I think Hamilton still got the fastest car but a little tougher rival Vettel. And I’m really starting to hate that Mercedes’s super fast mode in q3. It is killing Vettel’s effort every time in quali. And is giving Hamilton massive advantage take for instance canada. Ham started on pole. And Vet on the dirtiest possible front row.

    5 and at last let me give my opinion on these top five drvers 1 Hamilton 2 vettel 3 Alonso 4 Riccardo 5 Verstapen extra 2 decent drivers 1 Bottas 2 Räkkonen

    1 Hamilton, Hamilton used to be one of my favorite drivers from 2007 until 2013 but from 2014 not any longer. And it makes me laugh when people try to compare him with Senna. Most drivers are giants in giant cars. Hamilton has never done any special to deserve more than 30 wins since 2014. So personally I can’t compare him with anyone. He is just one of 21st century’s great divers

    Hamilton’s talent, Qualifying

    Hamilton’s weakness, race pace

    2 Vettel, Vettel is also one of 21st century’s great drivers. I believe, Vettel is better than Hamilton in terms of race pace. And Hamilton is better in qualifying. And Vettel could be compared to Schumacher in many areas. Because at this exact time if Vettel were in Mercedes and Hamilton in Ferrari Vettel would do the same what he did when he was in Redbull. And would win the championship.

    Vettel’s talent, consistency

    Vettel’s weakness, some silly mistakes under presure

    3 Alonso, Alonso is also one of 21st century’s great drivers. But this guy is different. And he is very much underrated by a lot of people. I have been watching f1 for 15 years, I have never seen a driver as much exiting as Fernando Alonso. I suspect only Hulkenberg is alomst at the same level with him. Vettel knew that when he was being chased by Alonso for four years. And Hamilton got the first taste of that in 2007 and got clearer picture of it from 2010 up to 2013 how tough it was to race against Alonso despite Hamilton was often starting ahead of Alonso or on pole. he is yet but Alonso is the only current driver who can be compared to Senna. Alonso performance in Maclaren is looking like Senna’s performance in Foulerton.

    Alonso’s talent, race pace

    Alonso’s weakness, qualifying

    4 Riccardo , Riccardo is also a very talented diver. he is having hard time with Redbull and Max but he is very much under control. I would love to see how far will he go to keep Max behind. So far he has got the measure of him.

    Riccardo’s talent, if he pushs he is fast

    Rccardo’s weakness,wet weather performance

    5 Verstapen,Verstapen is a very very good young talent I have never seen a diver like him with his age and quick maturity,He is the new star lets hope he will have world championship winning car to see him deliver.

    Verstapen’s talent, eary maturity and strong wet weather performance

    Verstapen’s weakness, sometimes too much aggressiveness and a bit dangerous poor defending tactics

    Extra

    1 Bottas, Bottas is a very good and humble guy. But that isn’t going to help him in dealing with Hamilton. I know or am sure that he has got a dream of becoming a champion. But unfortunately he’s already got that number 2 status in Mercedes. I hope no one will doubt me that team orders are now more common in Mercedes than any other team. Hamilton has even have a plan to use Bottas as a blocker for Vettel. but I wish Bottas wins more races and Hamilton fails to win the championship.

    2 Räkkonen,Räkkonen is obviously straggling. And I don’t know if he will return next year. But let’s hope he does anyway At the start of the season thought Räkkonen was going to deliver the goods this season. But I was a little bit more optimistic. Monaco was a bad luck for him. It was not team order cooked in the pits. He was simply not being able to push and creat a gap to Vettel. I wish Räkkonen wins a race this season and stays next year.

    Thankyou

    1. motoracinerd
      23rd June 2017, 14:57

      Pretty good run down of the drivers, I would say that you shouldn’t forget about Vettel’s 2014 season…it was an embarrassment and a mark against his legacy. Neither Hamilton or Alonso have been beaten as badly by a teammate…or have had a car capable of winning, but couldn’t get the job done. Vettel is driving on another level this year, but I truly feel like his last year in the Redbull tarnished his legacy.

      I’d say Alonso and Hamilton rank as the best of this generation. Hamilton is a bit inconsistent, but he’s had to work for everything…he’s had three champion teammates in Alonso, Button and Rosberg, and has always shown to be the quicker of them over one lap, and has matched or beat them in total points more often than not. Alonso has embarrassed every teammate (Raikkonen, Massa, Button) with the exception of Hamilton…he doesn’t have the car to fight at the moment, but still looks like he’d be a top talent in the right car. I just hope he gets a competitive ride next year.

      1. Every driver has 1 or 2 bad years. Hamilton had it in 2011 when he was beaten by teammate Button, Alonso had it in 2007 when he equalled with rookie Hamilton. For Vettel 2014 was his bad year but 2013 and 2015 were pretty impressive.

        1. motoracinerd
          23rd June 2017, 17:36

          I understand that every driver has a bad year…there is a difference in the examples you brought up though. Hamilton still won three races that year. His problem wasn’t with pace…it was with being overly aggressive.

          Alonso, was one point away from winning the title in 2007…which doesn’t qualify as a bad year in my book. Vettel couldn’t even compete…never tasted victory and had to watch his first year teammate take three wins and finish third in the championship. That was more than just a bad season…2016 was a bad season, 2014 was an embarrassing season. Vettel is amazing and I think he has performed the best so far this season, but in my opinion there is no excuse for a four-time champ to have the year he had in 2014.

        2. Every year is bad for Massa haha

    2. It is Verstappen, double P.

      Wonder why you think Ric has got the measure of him? Looks to me it is the opposite.

  5. I like the times by tyre chart @keithcollantine

  6. Arad (@just-an-fan)
    23rd June 2017, 16:11

    I wonder why only Grosjean has problems with brakes!!

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