George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the opening sessions of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli and setting the tone for a promising weekend in Baku. After topping the first practice period, Russell continued his dominance in the second free‑practice, posting a lap that was roughly half a second quicker around the demanding street circuit.
His pace underscored the Mercedes driver’s confidence and hinted at a potential battle for podium positions as the event progresses. Antonelli, who currently sits 81 points ahead of Russell in the 2026 Drivers' Championship chase, faced a difficult Thursday. A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop mid‑session during the opening practice, curtailing his running time. After an engine swap, the Italian returned to the track with just over half an hour remaining in the second session.
Despite the limited window, he managed to climb back up the order, ultimately recording a best time that left him 0.552 seconds behind Russell. "We lost quite a few laps in FP1 and missing half of FP2 is never ideal, especially on a street circuit," Antonelli admitted, adding that he felt the recovery was solid and that he was comfortable in the car, though he still has areas to refine before qualifying.
Max Verstappen secured third place in the session, demonstrating the speed of his upgraded Red Bull despite a gap of about 0.8 seconds to the leading Mercedes duo. The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens occupying the lower tier of the timesheets. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri occupied sixth and eighth positions respectively.
Norris humorously described McLaren’s distance from the front‑runners as "pretty pants," reflecting the team’s frustration with the current performance gap. Pierre Gasly placed seventh for Alpine, and the returning Isack Hadjar, now driving for Red Bull, finished ninth. Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain heading into the 2027 season, was the tenth quickest driver. The only interruption to the schedule came when Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku circuit, prompting a red flag and a brief pause to clear the debris.
Russell, who fell more than three race wins behind Antonelli in the previous round at Madrid, acknowledged that he is not realistically in contention for the championship at this stage, despite being the closest challenger to his teammate in the points standings. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism about his form, noting that he feels capable of winning again – a feat he has not achieved since his victory at the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
His recent podium streak in Baku, with three podium finishes in the last four years, adds weight to his belief that the weekend could mark a return to winning ways. Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell’s performance after the second practice, stating, "He's driving well. Where he makes the difference is in all the narrow sections where the car needs to be precise. Antonelli tends to have a bit more understeer, which costs him a fraction of a second in those corners.
It looks like a straight fight between the two Mercedes drivers." This observation highlights the subtle handling differences that can be decisive on a circuit as tight and technical as Baku. 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 Grand Prix at 9:15 am (the session itself starts at 9:30 am). Later, the F2 Feature Race 1 kicks off at 11:10 am, leading into the build‑up for qualifying at 12:30 pm.
The official qualifying session is slated for 1:00 pm, with the post‑qualifying analysis "Ted's Qualifying Notebook" scheduled for 3:00 pm. Saturday, September 26, continues the action with the F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am. The main event, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, starts at noon, with the chequered flag and post‑race reaction slated for 2:00 pm, and the final segment of analysis "Ted's Notebook" at 3:00 pm. All of these sessions are also broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The 2026 Formula 1 season remains live on Sky Sports F1 throughout the week, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix forming the centerpiece of a triple‑header of races. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, which offers a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. The combination of a fast‑paced street circuit, strong performances from the Mercedes drivers, and a full slate of supporting events promises an exciting weekend for fans and participants alike.