Hamilton says “others just took another step” as Ferrari close gap question in Baku practice

Lewis Hamilton said “others just took another step” during Thursday practice in Baku after Ferrari struggled to consistently match the leading times on the streets of Azerbaijan. Hamilton and Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc set the pace for their teams in Free Practice 1, finishing third and fourth respectively, just four tenths of a second from the top time while running the medium Pirelli tyre.

In Free Practice 2, however, Hamilton reported the competitiveness fell away, with Leclerc back in fourth and a 1.1-second margin to the leading time, and Hamilton fifth a further two tenths behind Leclerc. Hamilton attributed the change in part to how difficult the tyres were to bring into the working window, describing a pattern where out laps and prep laps did not immediately deliver grip before the tyre “switch[es] on” after an additional lap.

Hamilton also flagged a performance area for Mercedes, saying straight-line speed “is not as good as Mercedes,” and added that he would focus on closing any deficit heading into the next session. The remarks came after a season context in which Hamilton’s Mercedes has at times appeared among the closest challengers, while Ferrari has recently struggled to match pace consistently.

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur also addressed Baku’s particular demands, noting the importance of slipstream and avoiding impediment in the middle part of the lap, and acknowledging the venue’s volatility for the team. He referenced last year’s qualifying results as a reminder of how execution matters at the circuit, saying Ferrari must concentrate on what it can do to “extract the best” as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend progresses.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk