Red Bull heads into Saturday confident of mounting a challenge for pole position in Azerbaijan after topping both practice sessions on Friday, courtesy of Max Verstappen.
Verstappen posted the quickest laps during both first and second practice at the Baku City Circuit, while team-mate Daniel Ricciardo placed third overall, the pair split by Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas, having finished runner-up to Verstappen in the opening session.
Although Verstappen crashed out of FP2, he described the day as Red Bull's "most positive Friday of the year" and is optimistic over his one-lap prospects.
"The whole day has been really positive, except the last lap, everything has been working well," said the Dutchman. "From lap one I felt comfortable in the car, it was handling really well and I was confident with the setup.
"I think the preparation we did at the factory and in the simulator has allowed us to come here with a strong setup and competitive car from the go.
"We are confident heading into qualifying but also wary that Mercedes will turn their engines up a bit. We are on top at the end of Friday which means they have to catch up so it will be exciting in the session tomorrow.
"This has definitely been the most positive Friday of the year so far."
The 19-year-old described his incident during the final minute of FP2 as "very weird" after he locked up and spun into the tyre wall at Turn 1, heavily damaging the side and rear of his RB13.
"It was very weird to be honest," he added. "I locked up and was still trying to make the corner but then I tried to play it safe and take the exit road, suddenly I lost the rear and I had like a four-wheel powerslide into the barrier."
Ricciardo is wary that Mercedes and Ferrari will likely improve, but expects it to be a close session.
“It’s been a good day for myself and Max and great that we were in the top three in both sessions," said the Australian. "Like always, we should not celebrate on a Friday but we are in the ball park, so hopefully tomorrow we can stay at the front."
