Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 40 degrees. It is sunny and warm, but windy, very, very windy, as the City of Winds lives up to his name.

Russell set the pace in both of yesterday's sessions, however teammate Antonelli lost serious running time in both sessions due to a hydraulics issue, and once back on track was soon up to speed.

Verstappen was up there and while the Ferraris were fourth and fifth, both were over a second off the pace and clearly missing out in terms of straight-line speed.

Next up were the McLarens, albeit split by an ever-impressive Gasly, while from there on it was all a little jumbled. Both Woking drivers had brushes with the walls, however their experiences, unlike Lindblad and Bearman, were not session-ending.

This was due to numerous incidents across both sessions, with drivers either crashing out or experiencing technical issues, brakes being one of the most common factors.

It's early days but Williams much-anticipated upgrade, including a new, lighter tub, doesn't appear to have had that much of an impact, however we shall have to see.

As the weekend progresses we are likely to see further failures and further close encounters with the barriers, while it is suggested that the Mercedes pace is not what it seems. Time will tell.

Ferrari, RB and Cadillac all broke the curfew last night, for the Maranello outfit this was the second time this year, for its Faenza rivals and Cadillac the third - of the permitted four.

Despite the threat from the walls, track limits are a problem, particularly Turn 15, while fallen leaves on the track are also an issue.

The lights go green but there is no rush to action.

After a couple of minutes, Gasly breaks the deadlock. He is on mediums. He is subsequently followed by his teammate, who is also on the yellow-banded rubber.

Gasly posts a benchmark 50.582, as Bottas, Lindblad and Bearman head out.

Colapinto responds with a 51.899 as Gasly complains about the wind and the dusty track surface.

Gasly improves to 48.298 as more drivers head out, a lot of them on softs.

Twelve minutes in and Leclerc is the first of the big guns to appear.

The VSC is momentarily deployed, though it is not clear why. Lawson and Lindblad both ran wide but not enough to warrant a VSC.

A 47.714 from Gasly, as Lindblad goes second with a 49.545, only to be leapfrogged by Bearman (49.031).

Norris heads out but then pits again, McLaren's issues from yesterday clearly not entirely resolved.

Lawson goes second, ahead of Albon, Hulkenberg and Bearman.

Hamilton heads out and, like his teammate, posts an exploratory time.

Leclerc improves to tenth with a 51.606, while a 46.168 sees his teammate go top.

Albon goes second with a 47.505, but is demoted when Leclerc stops the clock at 45.564.

Verstappen goes third with a 47.214 as Gasly brushes the wall at Turn 15.

PBs in all three sectors see Piastri go third, but he is demoted when Antonelli crosses the line at 46.582. Russell subsequently goes fourth with a 46.843.

"There it is, first gust of the day," says Antonelli as he runs wide in Turn 16 courtesy of the tailwind.

Courtesy of a tow from Bottas and Stroll, Verstappen (mediums) goes top with a 45.329, however Hamilton (softs) responds with a 45.093.

"The car is very numb in the last sector, with the wind, very tricky," says Verstappen as Leclerc goes second with a 45.298.

Stroll momentarily stops at Turn 4 bringing out the yellows. He makes it another couple of corners before he parks up.

Antonelli goes top with a 45.046, 0.047s up on Hamilton.

Norris improves to sixth - on the softs - but remains over a second off the pace.

Russell (mediums) goes top with a 44.715, as Verstappen locks-up and runs wide in Turn 15.

A lock-up in Turn 1 for Hamilton.

Replay shows that Stroll hit the wall.

"For once, if this car didn't jump like a kangaroo, my God!" moans Verstappen.

Leclerc splits the Mercedes pair with a 44.877.

The lock-ups and offs continue, the yellow flags doing a lot of work this morning.

"Very low confidence into Turn 1," reports Piastri, "very unpredictable," as Albon has to use the escape road at Turn 4 after being caught out by the wind.

With 22 minutes remaining, the Mercedes pair switch to softs.

Again, the VSC is deployed but it is unclear why.

Russell consolidates his top spot with a 44.177, as Antonelli goes second with a 44.797.

In the Ferrari garage mechanics are working on Hamilton's left-front brake. They also appear to be changing the bargeboards.

Verstappen improves but remains fifth, 0.991s off the pace.

Having gone quickest in S1, Russell suffers a sudden snap in S2. However a strong S3 sees him improve to 44.021.

Antonelli closes to within 0.252s of his teammate.

Piastri goes fourth (44.969), as Hadjar remains seventh (45.227).

"Just hit the wall out of 6," reports Hadjar, however he is told to continue.

Courtesy of a two from Lawson, Verstappen splits the Mercedes pair with a 44.162.

Sainz improves to eleventh.

Quickest in S1, Leclerc goes fourth with a 44.544, though he remains 0.5s off Russell's pace.

Russell is off and in the escape road at Turn 7, the Briton managing to stop his car just before the barrier.

Despite going purple in S3, Albon remains 15th, 2.2s off the pace.

Again, Verstappen gets a double tow, and though unable to leapfrog Russell he closes to within 0.15s of the Mercedes driver.

Norris improves to fifth with a 44.899, 0.878s off the pace, leapfrogging his McLaren teammate in the process.

"Do you think I had enough traffic," Hadjar sarcastically enquires. "Sorry mate, but unfortunately I don't control all the other cars," he is told.

Lindblad can only manage 17th, while his teammate is 19th.

Hamilton goes fifth with a 44.789.

No tow this time, but nonetheless Verstappen goes top with a 43.922.

As replay shows Verstappen clouting the wall with his right rear, Leclerc runs wide in Turn 7.

Piastri improves to fifth with a 44.746, but is demoted by Gasly (44.637), the Frenchman purple in S3.

Hamilton goes third (44.033), having enjoyed a three-car tow, as Verstappen goes wide in Turn 15.

The session ends as Perez claims that Lindblad left the track and gained an advantage. "Pass it to the stewards," demands the Mexican.

Verstappen is quickest, the first time he had ended FP3 on top this season, ahead of Russell, Hamilton, Antonelli, Leclerc, Gasly, Piastri, Norris, Hadjar and Colapinto.

Sainz is eleventh, ahead of Bearman, Bortoleto, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Perez, Albon, Lawson, Lindblad, Alonso, Bottas and Stroll.

The sheer amount of 'moments' over the last hour, the near misses, the seemingly ever-present yellows suggests that there is much, much more to come, and clearly nobody can take anything for granted.

Mercedes appeared to have it in the bag, but even without a tow Verstappen was able to overhaul them, while Hamilton was also in the mix.

For once it we head into qualifying, and indeed the race, with a genuine 'anything can happen' scenario in full play.

Check out our Friday gallery from Baku here.