George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the second practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli and cementing a dominant opening to the weekend. After topping the earlier free‑practice slot, Russell continued his momentum on Baku's demanding street circuit, posting a lap that was roughly half a second quicker than Antonelli's best effort.
The British driver’s pace was particularly impressive given the challenges faced by the Italian rookie. Antonelli, who currently trails Russell by 81 points in the 2026 Drivers' Championship, suffered a hydraulic leak that forced his car to stop midway through the opening session. The issue curtailed his running in FP1, costing him valuable track time. After an engine swap, Antonelli was only able to return to the track with just over half an hour remaining in the second practice period.
Despite the limited window, he managed to climb back up the order, ultimately finishing second, 0.552 seconds behind his teammate. "We lost a lot of laps in FP1, and missing half of FP2 is never ideal, especially on a street circuit," Antonelli admitted after the session.
"Overall, I think it was a solid recovery. I feel good in the car, there are a few things to improve, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow." Max Verstappen secured third place in the upgraded Red Bull, though he remained about 0.8 seconds off the pace set by Russell.
The rest of the field struggled to match the Mercedes duo, with every other competitor more than a second slower. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes occupied fourth and fifth respectively, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri rounded out the top eight in sixth and eighth positions.
Norris humorously described McLaren’s gap to the front as "pretty pants," underscoring the difficulty of closing the margin. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly claimed seventh, with Red Bull’s returning driver Isack Hadjar slotting in ninth, and Haas’s Esteban Ocon—whose future with the team appears uncertain for 2027—taking the tenth fastest time.
The session was briefly halted when Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku circuit, prompting the only red flag of the day. Having fallen more than three race victories behind Antonelli in the previous round at Madrid, Russell acknowledged that a realistic championship challenge remains out of reach, despite being the closest rival to his teammate in the points tally.
Nonetheless, he expressed confidence in his form, noting that he has not stood on a podium since his win at the Austrian Grand Prix in June. "I feel like I’m back in race‑winning shape," Russell said on Wednesday, and his strong showing in Baku suggests he is on the right track. The British driver has enjoyed a podium finish in three of the last four races at this venue, highlighting his affinity for the circuit. Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell after the session, stating, "He’s driving exceptionally well.
The key difference comes in the tight sections where precision is vital. Antonelli tends to have a bit more understeer, which costs him a little time.
It really feels like a straight fight between the two Mercedes drivers." The weekend schedule is packed: on Friday, September 25, the F2 Sprint will kick off at 5:10 am, followed by the third practice session for the Azerbaijan GP at 9:15 am (officially starting at 9:30 am). Later that day, the F2 Feature Race 1 will run at 11:10 am, with the Grand Prix qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm, leading into the official qualifying session at 1:00 pm.
The day will conclude with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm. Saturday, September 26, begins with the F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, then the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am.
The main event, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, starts at noon, followed by the chequered flag ceremony and post‑race reaction at 2:00 pm. Ted’s Notebook will wrap up the coverage at 3:00 pm. All sessions will also be available live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix forming part of a triple‑header of races.
Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with no long‑term contract required and the freedom to cancel at any time. The race in Baku, scheduled for Saturday midday, promises further excitement as the championship battle unfolds on one of the sport’s most challenging street circuits.