Credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

First practice in Azerbaijan was dominated by Sergio Pérez, who crashed his Force India into the barriers at turn eight – a supremely narrow section of track that was the scene of plenty of drama. A lack of grip, smoke from tyre lockups, running wide off track and missing apexes and diving into run off zones was the order of the day, as the tricky Baku track caught out many a good driver.

Red Bull appeared to have improved their pace with Max Verstappen leading the first session, followed by Daniel Ricciardo. In the afternoon, Valtteri Bottas managed to split the two Red Bulls but it was still Verstappen on top. Max did crash it later in that same session, though, so not all glory for him.

Fernando Alonso stopped out on track, with his radio messages now simply reduced to: “Engine.” And in the afternoon Vettel avoided the turn eight barriers off track, only to find his retreat blocked by Massa who was doing the same. Jolyon Palmer topped them all though, copying Pérez and crashing into the wall.

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Credit: Sauber AG

Monisha Kaltenborn has been a mainstay at Sauber for many years, and has seen the team through several financial crisis situations during her time as team principal since 2012. Now, however, her tenure at the top has come to a close as she departs the team effective immediately. A statement made by the new owners, Longbow Finance, said the split was “by mutual consent and due to diverging views of the future of the company.”

There’s no knowing for sure at the moment what those diverging views represent, nor what Monisha may do next, nor even who will replace her at Sauber. Some have suggested the difficulties within the team come from the two drivers, Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein, not receiving equal treatment. However, the Chairman of the Board quickly shared his views on that as well, saying: “It would be contrary to the team’s absolute and longstanding commitment to fair competition.”

Ericsson argued that both drivers were given “equal equipment and priorities” but Wehrlein opted for a rather telling “no comment.”

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