MAX VERSTAPPEN hinted a return to form in his world championship battle with Lando Norris by setting a blistering pace in first practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Norris has cut Verstappen’s lead by 16 points over the last two races to ignite his title challenge, with the advantage now 62 points with eight races remaining.

The three-time world champion is without a win in six races and claimed after the last race in Monza that, despite his sizeable lead, his title hopes were no longer “realistic.”