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Title-Chasing Norris And McLaren 'A Long Way' Off The Pace In Azerbaijan GP

Championship-chasing Lando Norris conceded he and McLaren were well off the pace on Friday after he struggled to 17th place with team-mate Oscar Piastri fifth in second free practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Both drivers were left well adrift of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc who outpaced Red Bull's Sergio Perez to set the fastest time, prompting title-challenger Norris to admit he and his team faced much overnight homework to find a solution. "We're quite a long way off," he said, drawing only slight consolation from seeing Max Verstappen, Red Bull's three-time champion and series leader, wind up sixth behind Piastri. "I'm having to push way too much to try and get a lap time. Where Oscar is, that is kind of more where I think we are. So, I think if we nail it, we're just about there, but I'm sure they're not even close nailing it yet.

Charles Leclerc Bounces Back From Crash To Top Practice Times For Azerbaijan GP

Charles Leclerc recovered from a crash early in the day to top the times for Ferrari ahead of Red Bull's Sergio Perez in Friday's second free practice on a day of incidents and accidents at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Leclerc, who has taken pole three times before on the tricky Baku street circuit, had gone off early in opening practice, hitting the barriers at Turn 15 and his car incurring damage to the front right section. He was unhurt and the Ferrari mechanics fixed the damage although he needed to pit early in second practice to fit a new power steering system. This produced the odd sight of the Ferrari team forming a wall of bodies – like a team defending a football free-kick – to block vision of Leclerc's car as it was repaired.