Mexican Sergio Perez set the fastest time in the first practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the eighth round of the 2022 F1 season, continuing the good pace he enjoyed recently.

Perez, who won his first Red Bull win at this circuit last year, continued to perform well, having won the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago, and the subsequent renewal of his contract with Red Bull until 2024.

Perez scored the fastest time of 1:45.476 d and finished the first test in the first place, while his colleague, world champion Max Verstappen, did not enjoy the same level of comfort, and he struggled with the balance of the car that slipped in the final stages of testing, and the Dutchman was satisfied with third place, 0.334 seconds ahead of his colleague Mexican.

Charles Leclerc, the closest competitor to Perez, finished second, with a difference of 0.127 seconds, while Verstappen came third, while Carlos Sainz was satisfied with fourth.

Today, Friday, the sixth Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix began in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, with the participation of 10 teams.

AZERTAC news agency reported that Baku will host the two-day competition for the sixth time, where drivers will race at the 6-kilometer Baku Circuit.

Last March, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit hosted the second round of the Formula 1 World Championship for the 2022 season, with the participation of 20 competitors representing 10 teams.