George Russell emerged as the quickest driver in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, posting the fastest lap despite the fact that championship leader Kimi Antonelli was forced to abandon his run after a hydraulic failure halted his car on the track. The British driver, who currently trails Antonelli by 81 points in the Drivers' Championship, knows that he must begin to close the gap with his teammate quickly if he wants to keep his title hopes alive. Starting the weekend with a strong performance in Baku is a positive sign for Russell and his Mercedes team.
Russell’s best time was achieved with a substantial slip‑stream from Fernando Alonso, allowing him to shave four‑tenths off the pace of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and both Ferraris. Even without the aerodynamic boost from Alonso, Russell demonstrated impressive speed throughout the session, consistently running among the top times. Antonelli’s day was cut short when a hydraulic issue forced him to stop after roughly 35 minutes of track time.
The problem not only robbed him of valuable data but also means he will start the second practice session on the back foot. The Italian, who has won the previous two races, knows that Baku is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, often producing unexpected drama. With an 81‑point lead over Russell and more than a 100‑point cushion ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, Antonelli is aware that his advantage could evaporate quickly if reliability problems persist. "In terms of Kimi's session, FP1 is the least representative session, so that's a blessing," commented Jamie Chadwick of Sky Sports F1.
"The bigger concern is why they had the issue. We knew reliability was a big talking point for Mercedes earlier in the session; it seems to have been in a much better place the last few races especially, but that's going to be the biggest concern." Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both posted their best times on the medium‑compound tyres, indicating that they will be keen to fight for pole position in Friday’s qualifying and to contest the race win on Saturday afternoon. Red Bull arrived in Baku with a suite of new aerodynamic components, including a revised floor, updated side‑pods and redesigned mirrors.
Verstappen looked particularly quick on the hard tyres early in the session, suggesting that the team’s upgrades are already paying dividends. If you strip away the advantage Russell gained from Alonso’s slip‑stream, the data points to a genuine three‑way battle at the front of the grid between Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were placed sixth and fourteenth respectively, more than a second off Russell’s benchmark despite having received aerodynamic upgrades aimed at improving high‑speed performance. Piastri at one point suspected he had sustained damage to his car, but engineers found nothing obvious.
Norris, meanwhile, has yet to reveal his true pace, leaving the team hopeful that further improvements are still to come. Isack Hadjar, who has been confirmed to remain with Red Bull through 2027, returned to the track for the first time since July after missing three race weekends due to a wrist injury. Unfortunately, his comeback was hampered by an engine problem that cost him roughly 30 minutes of running time. Liam Lawson, stepping in for the Racing Bulls, launched from the start line in seventh place, with teammate Arvid Lindblad close behind in eighth.
Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain as the team is expected to part ways with him next season, managed ninth, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top ten. Williams driver Carlos Sainz experienced a minor brake‑fire incident early in the session. The incident was brief and did not significantly affect his track time, which is fortunate given that the team has introduced a substantial upgrade package for the weekend. The schedule for the remainder of the event is packed.
On Thursday, September 24, the day begins with F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, followed by the team bosses’ press conference at noon. Practice Two for the Azerbaijan GP starts at 1 pm, and the F1 Show airs at 2:15 pm. Friday, September 25, features the F2 sprint at 5:10 am, the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 9:15 am, the F2 feature race at 11:10 am, and the build‑up to qualifying at 12:30 pm.
Qualifying itself kicks off at 1 pm, with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook scheduled for 3 pm. Saturday, September 26, sees the second F2 feature race at 7:55 am, a Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, and the main event – the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – starting at noon. The chequered flag ceremony and post‑race reaction are slated for 2 pm, followed by Ted’s Notebook at 3 pm.
All of these sessions will also be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 throughout the week, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix forming part of a triple‑header of races. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract and cancel at any time, ensuring easy access to the high‑octane action in Baku.