George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the opening sessions of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli and cementing his momentum heading into the race weekend. After topping the first practice (FP1) earlier in the day, Russell continued his dominance in the second practice (FP2), posting a lap that was roughly half a second quicker around Baku's demanding street circuit. The British driver’s pace was evident as he navigated the tight corners and long straights of the city track with precision, showcasing the synergy between his driving style and the Mercedes package. Antonelli, who currently trails Russell by 81 points in the 2026 Drivers' Championship, faced a disrupted Thursday.
A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop mid‑session during FP1, costing him valuable track time. After a rapid engine swap, Antonelli returned to the tarmac with just over half an hour left in FP2. Despite the limited window, he managed to climb back up the order, ultimately setting the second‑fastest time, just 0.552 seconds shy of Russell's benchmark. "We lost quite a few laps in FP1 and missing half of FP2 is never ideal, especially on a street circuit," Antonelli admitted.
"Overall, I feel like it was a good recovery. I feel quite good in the car. A few things to work on but looking forward to tomorrow." His remarks highlighted the resilience required when dealing with technical setbacks on a circuit where margins are razor‑thin.
Max Verstappen, driving an upgraded Red Bull, secured third place in the session, finishing about 0.8 seconds behind the Mercedes duo. While his pace was solid, the gap underscored the advantage Mercedes currently holds at this stage of the weekend. The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens unable to match the leading times. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupied fourth and fifth positions respectively, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri filled the sixth and eighth slots.
Norris humorously described McLaren's deficit to the front as "pretty pants," reflecting the team's frustration. Pierre Gasly placed seventh for Alpine, and Red Bull’s returning driver Isack Hadjar managed ninth.
Haas driver Esteban Ocon, whose seat is rumored to be on the market for 2027, rounded out the top ten. A single red‑flag interruption occurred when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku circuit, halting the session briefly. Russell, who fell more than three race wins behind Antonelli in Madrid, acknowledged that he is not realistically in contention for the championship at this point, despite being the closest challenger to his teammate in the points tally.
Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in his form, noting that his last victory came at the Austrian Grand Prix in June. The Baku weekend represents a promising start to his quest for another win, especially given his record of podium finishes in three of the last four Azerbaijan races.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell after FP2, stating, "He's driving well. Where he makes the difference is in all the narrow bits where the car needs to be precise. Antonelli tends to have a bit more understeer, so he pays a price there.
It looks like a straight fight between the two Mercedes teammates." The schedule for the weekend is packed. On Friday, September 25, the day begins with the F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, followed by the third practice session for the Azerbaijan GP at 9:15 am (officially starting at 9:30 am). The F2 Feature Race 1 is slated for 11:10 am, with qualifying sessions for the Grand Prix building up from 12:30 pm and the official qualifying commencing at 1:00 pm. The day concludes with Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm.
Saturday, September 26, features the second F2 Feature Race at 7:55 am, the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, and the main race itself at noon, followed by post‑race analysis and reactions throughout the afternoon. All events are also broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues its live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marking the start of a triple‑header of races.
Viewers can stream the action via NOW, offering a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. This accessibility ensures fans worldwide can follow the high‑stakes battles in Baku, where precision, strategy, and the ability to overcome technical hiccups will determine who emerges victorious in the next chapter of the championship race.