<p>Red Bull's Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace in first practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Friday, with the two Ferraris close behind.</p>.<p>The 23-year-old Dutch driver, leading the standings for the first time in his career after winning in Monaco last month, lapped the Baku street circuit with a best time of one minute 43.184 seconds.</p>.<p>Ferrari's Monaco Grand Prix pole-sitter Charles Leclerc was the second fastest, 0.043 slower, with Spanish team mate Carlos Sainz third in the sunny session.</p>.<p>Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton, four points behind Verstappen after five races, was only seventh fastest with team mate Valtteri Bottas -- winner in Baku in 2019 -- 10th.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/formula-1/to-keep-focus-for-so-many-laps-was-hard-verstappen-989323.html" target="_blank">To keep focus for so many laps was hard: Verstappen </a></strong></p>.<p>Both were slowed by traffic on quick laps, however, and the 'dirty' track proved slippery for drivers who also had to contend with breezy conditions.</p>.<p>The weekend has been dominated by a row over 'bendy' rear wings, with the governing FIA keeping a close eye on the situation before introducing new tests at the following French Grand Prix.</p>.<p>Verstappen's Mexican team mate Sergio Perez, a two times podium finisher in Baku with now-defunct Force India, was fourth on the timesheets.</p>.<p>Australian Daniel Ricciardo, a winner in Azerbaijan with Red Bull in 2017, was fifth for McLaren and AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly sixth.</p>.<p>The race in Baku was not held last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will be held without spectators this weekend.</p>
<p>Red Bull's Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace in first practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Friday, with the two Ferraris close behind.</p>.<p>The 23-year-old Dutch driver, leading the standings for the first time in his career after winning in Monaco last month, lapped the Baku street circuit with a best time of one minute 43.184 seconds.</p>.<p>Ferrari's Monaco Grand Prix pole-sitter Charles Leclerc was the second fastest, 0.043 slower, with Spanish team mate Carlos Sainz third in the sunny session.</p>.<p>Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton, four points behind Verstappen after five races, was only seventh fastest with team mate Valtteri Bottas -- winner in Baku in 2019 -- 10th.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/formula-1/to-keep-focus-for-so-many-laps-was-hard-verstappen-989323.html" target="_blank">To keep focus for so many laps was hard: Verstappen </a></strong></p>.<p>Both were slowed by traffic on quick laps, however, and the 'dirty' track proved slippery for drivers who also had to contend with breezy conditions.</p>.<p>The weekend has been dominated by a row over 'bendy' rear wings, with the governing FIA keeping a close eye on the situation before introducing new tests at the following French Grand Prix.</p>.<p>Verstappen's Mexican team mate Sergio Perez, a two times podium finisher in Baku with now-defunct Force India, was fourth on the timesheets.</p>.<p>Australian Daniel Ricciardo, a winner in Azerbaijan with Red Bull in 2017, was fifth for McLaren and AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly sixth.</p>.<p>The race in Baku was not held last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will be held without spectators this weekend.</p>