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In the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri set the pace, securing a commanding 1-2 finish. However, it was Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda who captured attention, delivering a strong sixth-place performance that put him ahead of teammate Max Verstappen, all while navigating swirling rumors about his future in the sport. The session took place under clear skies, with an air temperature of 25°C and a track temperature of 34°C.
McLaren Sets the Pace in FP1
The McLaren team demonstrated formidable pace on the Baku City Circuit, with Lando Norris clocking the fastest time of the session. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, was close behind, solidifying a dream start to the weekend for the Woking-based squad. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, continuing his traditionally strong form in Azerbaijan.
All four cars powered by Honda RBPT powertrains finished inside the top ten. For Red Bull Racing, Tsunoda finished in P6, just ahead of World Champion Max Verstappen in P7. The sister team, Racing Bulls, also showed promise, with Liam Lawson finishing ninth and Isack Hadjar rounding out the top ten.
FP1 Results – Azerbaijan Grand Prix:
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Lando Norris (McLaren)
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
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George Russell (Mercedes)
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Alexander Albon (Williams)
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
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Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
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Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
Tsunoda Unfazed by Future Speculation
Tsunoda’s strong on-track showing comes at a critical time. Recent reports from German media suggested that his Red Bull seat was in jeopardy, with speculation that Isack Hadjar could be promoted in his place. However, Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko has since dismissed these claims, stating that a decision on the driver lineup will be made after the next few races.
For his part, Tsunoda remains remarkably calm and detached from the “outside noise.”
“I don’t really follow the media, so I just heard about these rumors,” Tsunoda commented. “As far as I know, nothing has changed. I just need to keep focusing on my performance and showing progress in every race. My top priority is to stay with this team.”
Hadjar echoed a similar sentiment, stating the rumors were “irrelevant” and that he had better things to do than read Instagram during his time off. Ultimately, performances over the next three Grands Prix in Azerbaijan, Singapore, and the United States will likely determine the drivers’ fates for the 2026 season.
Battling “Crazy” Tire Wear
While Tsunoda feels his qualifying pace is reaching a satisfactory level, consistently closing the gap to Verstappen, the team is grappling with a significant challenge: long-run pace. The core issue isn’t a lack of speed, but rather a mysterious and excessive level of tire degradation that prevents drivers from pushing hard over a race distance.
“Our main focus has to be the long runs,” Tsunoda explained. “We’ve been struggling during the race stints and even in practice. The biggest problem is that the team can’t fully understand or explain why it’s happening.”
This issue was particularly evident at the previous race in Monza. While Verstappen could run a lower-downforce setup to secure pole and the win, Tsunoda was forced to use a less aggressive rear wing to preserve his tires. This compromise, born from the team’s struggle with “crazy” tire wear, ultimately limited his car’s overall performance.
“Even when the car balance feels good, the tires just wear out incredibly fast for some reason,” he said. “We tried many things in Monza to find the cause, but we couldn’t find an answer.”
Despite the frustrations, Tsunoda sees a silver lining, noting that the team is making new discoveries each weekend. “I’m enjoying the process of trying different things and pushing for improvements,” he added.
Baku Demands Perfection
Beyond raw speed, Tsunoda is under pressure to deliver clean, point-scoring races. This has been amplified by a recent on-track collision with Liam Lawson, which cost the team a potential points finish. Tsunoda confirmed that a meeting with Lawson and Helmut Marko was scheduled to discuss the incident.
Regardless of who was at fault, contact between teammates is a cardinal sin in motorsport, wasting the immense effort and resources invested by the team. As a driver for a top team like Red Bull, this responsibility is paramount.
On the high-speed, concrete-lined streets of Baku, avoiding mistakes is a fundamental requirement. Surviving the chaos and bringing the car home is often half the battle.
“Baku is a challenging circuit with good memories and a lot of surprises. It’s fun to drive,” Tsunoda said. “It demands total concentration and the ability to extract everything from yourself and the car. That’s my goal this weekend.”
Unlike drivers of the past who might have appeared stressed when facing similar career crossroads, Tsunoda seems genuinely unconcerned. His relaxed demeanor may well be the very trait that has allowed him to deliver under pressure and forge his path in Formula 1. If he can clearly understand what needs to be done—and what must be avoided—he has everything it takes to succeed.
