Formula 1 Racing: Baku City Street Circuit, Practice 3

Good morning, bonjour! F1 racing enthusiasts new and present. Welcome back to Baku City Street Circuit Practice 3.  This is the 8th race of the 22-racing track and street circuit season for the 2022 Driver and Constructors championship. This street track has long fast straights, vicious turns, bending apex curbs along century walls and barriers. The track has 20 turns in all.

It’s Day 2 and today we will see Practice 3 and pole position qualifications.

The day began with a delay because of barriers and wall issues from the previous Formula 2 race. 

Practice 3 Brief

The lights go green, and we have the beginning of FP3 and the drivers out. AlphaTauri and Alpine looking strong in FP2, and both teams look to continue the fast pace in these sessions.

We see some of the teams, like Alpha Tauri and Mercedes going with the hard compound tyre. This is always a good option for race day for this street track can be harsh on the tyre compound.

Note: Hard compound tyre are the most durable and the slowest on a single lap. If the team strategy is a one-lane pit stop, then these tyres go for the long haul of the race. Keep a look out for tyre changes and tactics on race day.

Forty minutes into the session and not a major incident to report.

The top four drivers keep going back and forth on the timesheet.  Sainz of Ferrari, Verstappen of Red bull Racing, Leclerc of Ferrari and Perez of Red Bull Racing.

The McLaren team is looking strong. Drivers Norris and Ricciardo are pushing the pace along with Gasly from AlphaTauri.

Most Teams are back in the pit for a set of soft tyres, looking for a few final laps.

As they all come out, the three fastest laps were by Perez of Red Bull Racing with a time of 1:43.170.  Followed by Leclerc of Ferrari with a time of 1:43.240 and Verstappen of Red Bull Racing with a time of 1:43.449. 

Mclaren drivers Norris finished 5th, and Ricciardo finished 6th followed by a strong performance from Gasly of Alpha Tauri who finished 7th.  

Quote

“Unbelievable man, there are cars everywhere!” Max Verstappen

Next up is the main event for today, Qualifying and pole position. 

Ennio Sorgini is a Formula 1 Analyst with GTA Weekly News Reporting on Formula 1 racing Baku City Street Circuit, Practice 3