Immediately after the second free practice in Baku, Max Verstappen received good news from the RB21, making the situation even more interesting because McLaren encountered many problems.

BAKU – In the hectic world of Formula 1, a single moment of glimpse of hope can change the entire dynamic. That happened on Friday at the Baku City Circuit, where Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team received a welcome update about the RB21 immediately after the second free practice (FP2). While McLaren was struggling with a series of bad luck and mistakes, so that their dominance seemed to falter for a moment, this news opened the door for a more exciting fight in the Azerbaijani Grand Prix. The Dutch champion, who has been hunting consistency for weeks after a changeable season, was able to sigh of lighting. The RB21, Red Bulls car for 2025, showed signs of improvement that perfectly match the whimsical layout from Baku-a circuit full of long straight pieces and tight turns that rewards low-downforce setups.

The session itself was a rollercoaster, as befits Baku. FP2 ended with Lewis Hamilton at the top of the time list, followed by his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in a surprising 1-2 for the Scuderia. Hamilton clocked a sharp 1: 41,293, a time that even surpassed the pole from last year and a signal that Ferrari’s upgrades are attacking here. Verstappen nestled in fourth place, just 0.273 seconds from the Brit, with a solid 1: 41.566. His teammate Yuki Tsunoda did not do badly in P8 either, but the real story took place in the Red Bull garage. Immediately after the flag falls, the engineers reported a breakthrough: tests with an optimized aerodynamic setup, inspired by the Monza victory two weeks ago, had yielded unexpected profits in the sector with the castle walls. “We found a Sweet Spot in the Downforce balance,” team boss Christian Horner explained in a short interview on the edge of the Pitlane. “The RB21 now feels more stable in the slow chicanes, and the top speed on the Lange Straight is Improved. This is exactly the news we needed after an FP1 where we still had some balance issues.”

Verstappen himself was cautiously optimistic. The four -time world champion, which is currently third in the championship with 94 points behind leader Oscar Piastri, parked his car and got out with a nod to his mechanics. “It was not perfect today, but we collected data that counts. The adjustment to the floor and the wing worked better than expected, especially in sector two where the car got off the ground earlier.” In FP1, Verstappen had complained about lifting sensations – the RB21 jumped on unevenness, a problem that bothered him in earlier Street races. But the fast tweak during the red flag in the first session, combined with the post-FP2 analysis, showed that a small herkalibration of the suspension could boost the stability by 0.2 seconds per round. This ‘good news’ came at the perfect moment, because the Baku circuit, with its mix of high speeds and tight turns, is a testing ground for Red Bulls Low-Drag Philosophy. Experts like Johnny Herbert already predicted that Verstappen could shine here, just like in Italy, where he breathed new life into the RB21 with a record -breaking pole and dominant victory.

In the meantime, the contrast with McLaren was poignant. The team from Woking, which can put the constructors’ championship in his pocket this weekend, had a Friday to forget. Lando Norris, Verstappens Direct Rival in the title fight, started strong in FP1 with the fastest time of 1: 42.704, but his day ended abruptly in FP2. With an aggressive push in turn 4, he hit the wall, which led to heavy damage to the rear suspension. Norris was only able to finish seven laps and finished tenth with a 1: 42.199 – frustrating, because he missed crucial long runs. “Annoying crash,” sighed the Brit post session. “We had a good rhythm, but this costs us data for the Race Sim.” Teammate Piastri had it even harder. The Australian, who defends Baku as a reigning winner, already struggled in FP1 with a power unit issue that cost him almost half a session. A quick fix let him return for P2 in that training, but in FP2 things went wrong in turn 15: a light touch with the barrier resulted in a 12th place (1: 46.915). “Disruptive day,” recognized team boss Andrea Stella. “Red and yellow flags interrupt our rhythm, and the PU problems at Oscar were unexpected. We have to analyze tonight, because Baku does not forgive errors.”

These setbacks for McLaren made the situation all the more intriguing. Piastri leads the championship with a lead that seems vulnerable if Norris does not score. Red Bull, with three wins this season (all Verstappen), smoke blood. The RB21, designed under Pierre Waché without Adrian Newey’s influence, had flashed in earlier races such as Imola and Japan, but struggled with consistency on bumpy tracks. Baku, with its mid-speed corners and long slipstream options,, however, fits with the strengths: efficient aero and strong engine. If the updates held in FP3 and Qualifying, Verstappen can hunt pole tomorrow – a scenario that mortgages McLarens Title ambitions. “This news gives us momentum,” said Horner. “We are not back on Square One, but closer than in months.”

The wider context adds tension. Ferrari’s strong FP2 shows that they are participating in the victory, with Hamilton who praised: “We see Progress-the SF-25 feels sharp.” Mercedes lurked in P3 and P8 with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, while Williams surprised with Alex Albon in P3. Haas did it solid with Ollie Bearman P5. But the focus is on the game at the top: Verstappen versus the McLaren boys. With seven races to go, and McLaren’s Constructors’ title in the sights (they have to beat Ferrari with nine points), feels like gold every tenth seconds.

On Saturday, FP3 and Qualifying await, where the true colors turn out. For Verstappen, who found a ‘New Philosophy’ in the setup after Monza, this is the time to capitalize. The RB21’s good news after FP2 is more than a technical detail; It is a catalyst for drama in a season full of plot twists. Baku, with his medieval walls and modern chaos, promises a weekend that nobody quickly forgets. If Red Bull holds the balance, and McLaren recovers, the race can become a classic on Sunday – with Verstappen in the lead role, ready to reopen the hunt for Piastri.