'Others just took another step' in Baku practice – Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc struggled to keep pace during Thursday's practice sessions for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Despite a promising start in FP1, the Ferrari duo fell significantly behind their rivals in FP2, with Hamilton highlighting the extreme difficulty in managing the Pirelli tyres to reach their optimal operating window. Hamilton noted that while the car remained largely unchanged, their competitors made significant gains, leaving Ferrari with a deficit in both grip and straight-line speed. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the challenge, noting that the unique nature of the Baku circuit—combined with the unpredictable tyre behavior—makes it difficult to gauge true performance, especially with teams like McLaren showing strong pace despite incomplete runs.