George Russell emerged as the quickest driver in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, setting the tone for a promising weekend in the fast‑flowing streets of Baku. The British racer capitalised on a substantial slipstream from Fernando Alonso, which helped him carve out a lap that was roughly four‑tenths of a second faster than Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and the two Ferraris, both of which were also in the mix but could not match the Mercedes driver’s pace. Russell’s performance is particularly significant given his position in the championship. He trails the series leader, Kimi Antonelli, by a sizeable 81 points, and the gap is widening as the season progresses.
With only a few races remaining, the pressure is mounting for Russell to start eroding Antonelli’s advantage before the title fight becomes a foregone conclusion. His strong showing in Baku suggests that the Mercedes team may have found a rhythm that could help close the deficit, especially if they can replicate the slipstream benefit that proved so effective on his best lap. Antonelli’s day, however, took a dramatic turn when a hydraulic failure forced the Italian champion to pull off the track, costing him roughly 35 minutes of valuable running time. The issue not only disrupted his own preparation but also placed him at a strategic disadvantage heading into the second practice session scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m.
(live on Sky Sports F1). Antonelli has been dominant in the recent rounds, winning the previous two races, but Baku is notorious for its unforgiving layout and the potential for unexpected incidents. His 81‑point lead over Russell, combined with a more than 100‑point cushion ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, could be eroded quickly if reliability problems persist.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick commented on the situation, noting that the first practice session is often the least indicative of true performance, which could work in Antonelli’s favour. She highlighted the underlying concern about the hydraulic fault, reminding viewers that reliability has been a hot topic for Mercedes throughout the weekend. While the team appeared to have improved its durability over recent races, any lingering issues could become a decisive factor as the championship draws to a close.
In the midfield, Hamilton and Charles Leclerc posted their quickest laps on the medium‑compound tyres, signalling that both Mercedes and Ferrari will be eager to fight for pole position in Friday’s qualifying and the eventual race win on Saturday afternoon. Red Bull, meanwhile, introduced several new components for the Baku circuit, including an updated floor, revised sidepods, and redesigned mirrors. Verstappen demonstrated strong early‑session speed on the hard tyres, suggesting that the Austrian could be a serious contender for the front‑row despite the aerodynamic tweaks.
Beyond the headline battle, the practice session offered a snapshot of the broader field’s form. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris recorded sixth‑ and 14th‑place times, respectively, each trailing Russell by more than a second even after receiving aerodynamic upgrades aimed at enhancing performance on high‑speed tracks.
Piastri briefly feared he had sustained damage to his car, but the team found no evidence of any issue. Norris, on the other hand, has yet to reveal his full pace, leaving room for improvement as the weekend progresses. Red Bull’s rookie Isack Hadjar, who has secured a contract extension through 2027, returned to action after missing the last three race weekends due to a wrist injury.
Unfortunately, his comeback was hampered by an engine problem that deprived him of 30 minutes of track time. This setback allowed Liam Lawson, now back with the Racing Bulls, to launch from the start line into seventh place, with teammate Arvid Lindblad close behind in eighth. Haas driver Esteban Ocon, whose future with the team looks uncertain as they are expected to part ways with him next season, managed to finish ninth in the session.
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, competing under the team’s new partnership, secured the tenth spot. Williams’ Carlos Sainz experienced a minor brake fire early in the run, but the incident caused minimal loss of track time, especially as the team introduced a significant upgrade package for the weekend. The schedule for the remainder of the weekend is packed with action.
Thursday, September 24, features F2 qualifying at 10:55 a.m., a team‑boss press conference at noon, the second practice session for the Azerbaijan GP at 1 p.m., and the F1 Show at 2:15 p.m. Friday, September 25, includes the F2 sprint at 5:10 a.m., the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 9:15 a.m., the F2 feature race at 11:10 a.m., and the build‑up to qualifying at 12:30 p.m., with the actual qualifying session commencing at 1 p.m.
The day concludes with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3 p.m. Saturday, September 26, sees the second F2 feature race at 7:55 a.m., the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 a.m., the main race at noon, followed by post‑race analysis and reactions throughout the afternoon. All events are also broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
For viewers, the 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be accessible via Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW – a contract‑free service that can be cancelled at any time. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, set for a Saturday midday start, forms the centerpiece of a triple‑header weekend, promising high‑speed drama, strategic intrigue, and the ever‑present battle for championship points as the season heads toward its climax.