George Russell emerged as the quickest driver in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, posting the fastest lap despite the looming pressure from championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who was forced to halt his run after encountering a hydraulic failure on the circuit. The British driver, who currently trails Antonelli by 81 points in the drivers' standings, knows he must begin narrowing the gap to his teammate quickly if he hopes to keep his title aspirations alive and avoid an early showdown in the championship.
Russell’s strong start in Baku could be a key indicator of his intent to challenge for the top spot as the season progresses. During his best lap, Russell benefitted from a substantial slipstream generated by Fernando Alonso, which allowed him to shave off enough time to beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and both Ferraris by roughly four tenths of a second. Even before that optimal lap, Russell demonstrated impressive pace throughout the session, consistently running near the front of the field and signalling that Mercedes still possesses the speed to contend with the leading teams. Antonelli, meanwhile, suffered a significant setback when a hydraulic issue forced him to stop his car, costing him around 35 minutes of valuable track time.
This interruption means the Italian will start the second practice session at a disadvantage, needing to recover lost data and confidence before the qualifying round later in the day. Despite his recent success—having secured victories in the last two races—Antonelli faces the reality that Baku is one of the most demanding venues on the calendar, known for its high-speed straights, tight corners, and frequent incidents.
His 81-point cushion over Russell and a massive lead of over 100 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris could quickly erode if he cannot maintain his reliability and pace. "In terms of Kimi's session, FP1 is the least representative session, so that's a blessing," noted Sky Sports F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick.
She added that the bigger concern lies in the cause of the hydraulic problem, emphasizing that reliability has been a recurring theme for Mercedes throughout the weekend. While the team appeared to have improved its reliability in recent races, any lingering issues could become a decisive factor as the season unfolds. Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both posted their quickest times on the medium compound tyres, suggesting they will be aiming for strong qualifying positions on Friday and a realistic shot at victory on Saturday. Red Bull, on the other hand, introduced several new components for the Baku weekend, including an updated floor, revised sidepod geometry, and redesigned mirrors.
Verstappen displayed notable speed on the hard tyres early in the session, indicating that the Austrian driver could be a serious contender for the front of the grid despite the aerodynamic changes. When the slipstream advantage is removed from Russell’s best lap, the performance gap between Mercedes and Red Bull narrows, implying that the two manufacturers will be locked in a close battle for supremacy at the start of the race. Ferrari’s pace, while solid, still lagged behind the leading pair, leaving the Scuderia to hope that strategic decisions and tyre management will keep them in contention. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris qualified sixth and fourteenth respectively, both more than a second off Russell’s time despite recent upgrades to their cars.
The British team’s development focus has largely been on aerodynamic modifications that tend to favor high-speed, non-street circuits. Consequently, they still have ample opportunity to refine their package during the remaining practice sessions and potentially climb the order. Piastri experienced a momentary concern when he suspected damage to his car, but the team’s engineers reported no visible issues after inspection.
Norris, meanwhile, has yet to unleash his full potential, and observers will be watching closely to see whether he can translate his raw speed into a competitive lap time. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, confirmed to remain with the team through 2027, returned to the garage 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.
This development opened the door for Liam Lawson to rejoin the Racing Bulls lineup, where he launched from seventh on the grid, with teammate Arvid Lindblad occupying eighth. Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain as the team is expected to release him after the season, managed to finish ninth in practice, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto secured tenth. Williams’ Carlos Sainz experienced a minor brake fire early in the session, but the incident caused only a brief loss of track time, especially significant given the team’s introduction of a substantial upgrade package aimed at improving performance across the weekend.
The schedule for the remainder of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is packed with action. On Thursday, September 24, the day begins with the F2 Qualifying session at 10:55 am, followed by the Team Bosses’ Press Conference at noon. The second Formula 1 practice session starts at 1 pm, leading into the F1 Show at 2:15 pm.
Friday, September 25, features the F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, the third practice session at 9:15 am (with the session itself kicking off at 9:30 am), the F2 Feature Race at 11:10 am, and the build‑up to the main qualifying at 12:30 pm. Qualifying itself commences at 1 pm, with the post‑qualifying analysis, “Ted’s Qualifying Notebook,” airing at 3 pm.
Saturday, September 26, includes the second F2 Feature Race at 7:55 am, a pre‑race build‑up at 10:30 am, and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix start at noon, followed by the chequered flag ceremony at 2 pm and a reaction segment at 3 pm. Sunday concludes the weekend with the final F2 Feature Race and additional coverage. All of this action is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time.
The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane drama, and the Baku race, set on a Saturday, promises to be a pivotal chapter in the championship battle, especially as the leaders navigate the challenges of reliability, tyre strategy, and the unforgiving nature of the street circuit.