Driver Max Verstappen tops final Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice — TimesLIVE

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the final practice before qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan. The four-time world champion completed a lap in 1 minute 43.922 seconds, finishing 0.099 seconds ahead of Mercedes' George Russell.

Final session results

Russell held first place until the final minutes of the one-hour session. He was the fastest in both practices on Thursday, but Verstappen overtook the Briton at the end of the final practice. Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari posted the third-best time, 0.111 seconds behind the leader.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fourth. On Thursday, the Italian lost valuable track time because of a hydraulics problem. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fifth, while Alpine driver Pierre Gasly was sixth. According to TimesLIVE, McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris ended the session in seventh and eighth places respectively.

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Isack Hadjar posted the ninth-fastest time in his return to Red Bull after missing three races due to a wrist injury. Alpine's Franco Colapinto completed the top 10. Leclerc has started from pole in Baku four times but has yet to win this race.

Wind and penalties for Aston Martin

The practice passed without stoppages, although gusty winds forced several drivers, including Verstappen and Hamilton, into the run-off areas. Russell nearly hit the barrier but managed to stop the car. Lance Stroll touched the barrier and suffered a tyre puncture.

Stroll and his Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso must start from the back of the grid because of major power-unit-related penalties. The race in Baku will take place on Saturday, as Azerbaijan will mark Memorial Day on Sunday. This round is the first in a series of three races to be held over three consecutive weekends.