Intense qualifying battle foreshadowed but how are the long runs in Baku?

After a disappointing Grand Prix weekend in Italy, things are already looking brighter for Red Bull Racing so far at the Baku City Circuit. Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time in FP1 and Sergio Perez finished FP2 just behind Charles Leclerc. But how do the long runs in Baku?

Lewis Hamilton averaged the fastest lap time in the long runs. The Mercedes driver, who finished in the top three in both Friday practice sessions, started his stint on the hard tyre with a competitive 1:48.337 and then continued to consistently drive lap times in the 1:48 range.

Sergio Perez, as in FP2's timesheet, was faster than teammate Max Verstappen. The Mexican started with a 1:49.163 and then dipped into the 1:48s. Like Perez, Verstappen started his stint on mediums and opened with a 1:50.270. The Dutchman then recorded times in the 1:49 range, eventually finishing with a 1:48.792.

At McLaren, a similar scenario could be seen. Oscar Piastri was faster than Lando Norris in the longruns, which were completed on mediums. The Australian opened with a 1:48.966 and continued to drive consistently in the 1:48s in his subsequent laps. Later, the McLaren driver drove laps in the 1:49 range. Norris recorded a fastest lap in his long run of 1:48.907 but stayed above the 1:49 mark outside of that time.