Piastri’s ‘love-hate’ bond with Baku torn open after rocky practice
Oscar Piastri managed to bounce back from early brake vibration issues to finish sixth in the first practice session on the track at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
It was a busy opening session in McLaren’s garage on Thursday, with both Piastri and Lando Norris called in by engineers due to concerning internal reports.
Oscar Piastri watches on after crashing out in the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Getty Images
Both drivers were able to return to the track before the session ended, with Piastri’s team completing the necessary precautionary checks for brake vibrations.
Norris, however, had entered the pit lane after his team discovered damage around the first floor of his car. He returned to finished 14th in practice.
Mercedes’ George Russell set the benchmark time for the upcoming race, while Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc clocked in second and third respectively.
Prior to the session, Piastri admitted he has a love-hate relationship with the track in Azerbaijan.
In 2024, the McLaren driver had the best weekend of his career and the following year slumped to his worst career weekend.
“Love-hate in some ways,” said Piastri of returning to Baku.
“I think probably my best race ever has been at this track – and probably my worst race ever has been at this track. So, always eventful.”
In 2024, the Australian driver bagged his second grand prix victory on the streets of Baku after sailing past the Ferrari of Leclerc in the dying stages of the race.
His win moved McLaren to the top of the constructors’ championship table, where the team ultimately came out on top of Red Bull.
“It’s always a big confidence track, and obviously, you need to push the limits a lot,” Piastri continued.
“It’s quite a rare combination of a street circuit with so many massive braking zones. So yeah, it’s an interesting track, but hopefully this year is more like 2024.”
The McLaren driver was well and truly wiped by his teammate in Madrid, reigning champ Norris running sometimes half a second quicker than the Aussie.
It has fans harking back to Azerbaijan in 2025 as the shift in Piastri’s career. The weekend ended with a crash in qualifying, a false start and then a lap one crash to put the nail in the coffin.
Oscar Piastri speaking before the weekend, saying Baku is a ‘love-hate’ race for him. Getty Images
“The progress isn’t linear. You’re always going to find some things that work, go down some paths that don’t work,” Piastri said of his recent performance.
“We’re still very much kind of in that phase at the moment.
“I think last weekend in Madrid the car was quick eventually, but again very, very difficult to get the lap time out of it ... but I feel like we’re making progress and at least exploring different things. Some are working, some aren’t.
“But we’re not standing still, which is the most important thing.”
Piastri still feels “well-supported” by his team as he continues to flounder in the 2026 car.
“Yes, I’ve definitely felt that we’re throwing everything we can at trying to improve, which has been good,” he said.
“Again, there’s only so many things you can do without just jumping in the car and trying stuff.
“I feel like it’s been a very good team response in trying to improve things as quickly as we can and feel like I’m being well supported.”
