Max Verstappen Baku prospects remain strong as the Red Bull team closely monitors stiff competition from Ferrari and McLaren at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Following the conclusion of Free Practice 3 at the Baku City Street Circuit, team principal Laurent Mekies assessed their position against the fastest teams, setting the stage for a tense qualifying session ahead.
Red Bull Acknowledges McLaren and Ferrari as Major Threats in Baku
After McLaren’s Lando Norris set the pace with the fastest time of 1:41.223 in FP3, Verstappen was just 0.222 seconds behind in second place, while fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri secured third. Mekies noted that although the session showed clear speed from McLaren and Ferrari, this was consistent with what the teams had observed since Thursday’s practice.
“But look, I don’t think it changed fundamentally what we have seen yesterday, you know, McLaren is very, very fast. Ferrari is very fast as well, and we try to get with these two teams, you know, probably what you see on the screen with us being trailing by two tenths is probably about fair of where we are as per the end of FP3.”
— Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Team Principal
Ferrari’s pace remained competitive, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton ending the session in fourth place, ahead of a mix of drivers including Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Alexander Albon, Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson, and Charles Leclerc, who rounded out the top ten.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda faced a more challenging day, finishing in 16th place behind Fernando Alonso and Franco Colapinto.
Verstappen Optimistic After Friday’s Practice Despite Tough Rivalry
Max Verstappen expressed cautious optimism following the first day’s running in Baku. He highlighted that while the car felt stable and balanced on the demanding street circuit, there was still room for improvement, especially in qualifying pace.
“It didn’t go wrong. The car feels good, which is positive. We’ve found a stable balance on this rather specific track. That’s what you need. Everything has to come together to drive a good lap.”
— Max Verstappen, Red Bull Driver
“We’re still a bit short on one flying lap; there’s still more to be gained from the car and myself. Hopefully, that will go a bit better tomorrow. The long run felt fine. It’s always slippery here and hard on the tyres with the softer compounds, but that didn’t go wrong.”
— Max Verstappen, Red Bull Driver
The challenging nature of the Baku City Street Circuit demands precision and confidence, and Verstappen’s reflections suggest he and his RB21 car are steadily adapting to the track’s demands. The team hopes to close the gap to McLaren and Ferrari when qualifying begins.
Anticipation Builds as Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying Approaches
The qualifying session for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is imminent, and the battle for pole position promises to be closely contested. Mekies’ comments indicate that the current gap to McLaren’s fastest time is within a reasonable margin, while Verstappen’s assurance about car stability underlines Red Bull’s strategy to maximize performance when it matters most.
As a four-time world champion, Verstappen aims to secure pole position, which will be crucial for controlling Sunday’s race on the narrow, high-speed street circuit. Starting at the front could provide the strategic advantage needed to contend for victory amid fierce rivals like Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s dynamic drivers.
The developments from Friday suggest a gripping qualifying session where every tenth of a second will count. Verstappen’s readiness to push harder highlights his determination to enhance his Max Verstappen Baku prospects and maintain Red Bull’s competitiveness in Azerbaijan’s unique race environment.
