F1 | Free analysis in Baku: Red Bull also flies with Perez, Ferrari to be reviewed on race pace

The first day of free practice in Azerbaijan ended with the two Red Bulls ahead of everyone. The peculiarity lies in the fact that this time Perez is the fastest of all, with a time of 1: 42.115, trailing teammate Max Verstappen by just a tenth, with Carlos Sainz immediately behind the Dutch driver. The Austrians look decidedly at ease in Baku, as does Ferrari, but be careful not to underestimate McLaren, who as usual on Fridays never show their potential. Mercedes, however, seems a little lost, with Hamilton eleventh and Bottas even sixteenth. Performances that are almost too anomalous to be true, so much so that it seems that the two Star standard bearers lapped in the first part of FP2 in such a cost-saving mode that they didn't take the fast lap times into account at all. Another discussion regarding the race pace simulation, but let's proceed in order.

© Motorionline

Pirelli also brought the three softest compounds of its 2021 range to Baku, with the hard one never used in long runs, at least by the riders we have included in the table above. We immediately notice how Red Bull, especially with Checo, was very constant, as well as fast, for the entire duration of the long run, done entirely on soft tires by both drivers, who therefore only tested the first part of the race, unless that they have no intention of starting with the mediums and using the reds only in the last part of Sunday's Grand Prix, but it seems unlikely as a solution. Hamilton lapped only with the C4s, also with a consistency that should be highlighted, also because the times seem really good. The Ferraris seem to convince on the fastest lap, despite Leclerc not completing the last attempt, crashing (!) into the wall at the end of the central sector. In terms of race pace, apart from a 45 with Sainz's average in the final, the pace doesn't seem to be that excellent. So watch out for AlphaTauri and Alpine, who appear to be in good shape, while you should never underestimate McLaren, who have always been down on their performance since the season began.