Summary
Verstappen fastest in second practice, before crashing
Palmer crashes, several cars sliding into escape road, Alonso suffers engine failure
Verstappen fastest in first practice, Perez crashes, Vettel spins
Dry and sunny all weekendpublished at 09:54 British Summer Time 23 June 2017
Postpublished at 09:53 British Summer Time 23 June 2017
It's a lovely day in Baku, bright blue skies with the odd wispy cloud. Looks tremendously unlikely there'll be any rain but let's see what the experts think.
Image source, .
Image source, .Postpublished at 09:50 British Summer Time 23 June 2017
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThe big news this week has been the sudden departure of team principal Monisha Kaltenborn from Sauber on the eve of the race. The explanation from the owners, the Swiss investment group Longbow Finance, was a difference of opinion over the future of the team. But in what direction has not been made clear.
The news was communicated in a very odd fashion - it was widely disseminated by the media on Wednesday morning. The first statement from the team came after 11pm in Switzerland that night, and it was to deny claims of favouritism towards one of the drivers, Marcus Ericsson. Only a few minutes later did a second statement come confirming Kaltenborn’s departure.
The drivers were among those surprised. Ericsson said he found out on Wednesday and had not spoken to Kaltenborn. Wehrlein said she had phone him on Tuesday night to warn him what was coming. Ericsson flatly denied claims of favouritism towards him, saying it was “completely untrue”. Wehrlein, though, said: “On this I will not comment.” Make of that what you will.
Postpublished at 09:49 British Summer Time 23 June 2017
Before we crack on with following the cars on the track there's been some news this week with a significant departure from one of the teams...
Listen to audio commentary onlinepublished at 09:44 British Summer Time 23 June 2017
Looks like Jennie Gow and the gang were tucking into some Baku delicacies last night.
You can listen to audio commentary online from 09:55 BST.
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End of instagram postPostpublished at 09:42 British Summer Time 23 June 2017
Image source, Getty ImagesHello! Welcome along to our coverage of practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
We may have been to Baku before but its actually this particular race's debut because last year it was called the European Grand Prix.
Nico Rosberg triumphed in that race, leading from start to finish, but the reigning world champion is of course no longer here, meaning someone else will triumph on the tight and twisty streets of Baku.
Postpublished at 09:37 British Summer Time 23 June 2017
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Image source, Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton has some ghosts to exorcise this weekend in Baku.
It is exactly the sort of track where the Mercedes driver ought to excel - lots of long straights into slow right-angled corners, where Hamilton’s unsurpassed feel in being able to brake late, keep control and rotate the car balletically into the turns should come to the fore.
Last year, the race’s debut on the calendar, he was on fire. Miles quicker than anyone, only to drive like a novice in qualifying, locking up repeatedly before finally crashing by hitting an inside wall around the castle section. This year, he is out to make amends. And he means business.
Back in Bakupublished at 09:31 British Summer Time 23 June 2017
Image source, Getty ImagesDid you know that Baku is home to chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov? Or the world's biggest (only) carpet museum that is superbly shaped like a roll of carpet?
No?
There's probably not a lot of things us F1 fans know about Baku, given the city has held just one race before this weekend. It wasn't a particularly brilliant race either.
It was, however, memorable for Lewis Hamilton's calamitous qualifying session. He certainly cannot afford for history to repeat this weekend.
Image source, Getty Images