Norris, who trails Piastri by 31 points in the Drivers’ Championship with eight race weekends to go, was fast throughout the session.
Piastri suffered an early power unit problem.
McLaren appear to be in a league of their own, on a weekend they can seal the Constructors’ Championship, as Norris was 0.310s ahead of Piastri and over half a second clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third.
Photo from Sky Sports.
Azerbaijan GP Practice One Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:42.704 |
| 2) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:43.014 |
| 3) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:43.256 |
| 4) George Russell | Mercedes | 1:43.257 |
| 5) Alex Albon | Williams | 1:43.563 |
| 6) Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 1:43.738 |
| 7) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:43.790 |
| 8) Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:43.859 |
| 9) Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:43.903 |
| 10) Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:43.975 |
| 11) Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:43.985 |
| 12) Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1:43.986 |
| 13) Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:44.087 |
| 14) Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:44.087 |
| 15) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:44.139 |
| 16) Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:44.151 |
| 17) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:44.329 |
| 18) Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:44.439 |
| 19) Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:45.299 |
| 20) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:45.418 |
Victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, beating the world champion Max Verstappen, was an object lesson in the 24-year-old’s calm and confidence and his potential to take the title in only his third season.
Piastri and his team duly executed with perfection in what was something of a procession to secure the victory and one largely decided in the opening moments when Verstappen held his lead from the off but had to go off wide at turn two as Piastri went up the inside.
Oscar Piastri wins the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025Oscar Piastri drove a flawless race from start to finish in Bahrain to secure victory.
Calm and controlled throughout, this was a champion’s drive from Piastri that has made it abundantly clear he is also in contention to win the championship this season.
Mercedes’s George Russell took the 2nd podium step whilst Piastri’s team mate and championship leader Lando Noris took the 3rd step.
McLaren become first F1 team to reveal 2025 car
Reigning constructors’ champions McLaren have become the first Formula 1 team to reveal their 2025 car ahead of the start of the new season.
McLaren ran the MCL39 in a shakedown at Silverstone on Thursday morning, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
10 of the sport’s teams obliged to reveal their 2025 liveries at F1’s special 75th anniversary launch event at The O2 arena in London next Tuesday, McLaren ran the car with an alternative ‘geometric camo design’ in shades of papaya and black.
McLaren ended a 26-year wait for a constructors’ title by coming from behind to finish ahead of Ferrari and Red Bull, and will go into pre-season testing later this month – ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16 – as the favourites to retain their crown.
McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown said: “Today is a big milestone in our journey in the fight for the 2025 title. It’s great to get our championship challenger, the MCL39, on track for the first time and to launch the culmination of the team’s hard work.