George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the opening practice sessions for 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 session earlier in the day, Russell extended his advantage in the second session, posting a lap time roughly half a second faster around the demanding street circuit. His pace underscored Mercedes' resurgence and highlighted the growing gap between the two drivers, despite Antonelli still leading the 2026 Drivers' Championship by 81 points. Antonelli’s Thursday was hampered by a hydraulic leak that forced his car to stop mid‑run during the first practice.
The issue curtailed his running, and he lost valuable track time on a circuit where every lap counts. After an engine change, the Italian returned to the track with just over half an hour left in the session. He managed to climb back up the order, ultimately finishing second, 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. "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." Max Verstappen secured third place in the upgraded Red Bull, but his best time was still about 0.8 seconds off the Mercedes duo, indicating a noticeable performance gap on this particular layout. The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens struggling to match the pace of the leading pair. 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 was blunt about his team's performance, describing the deficit to the front as "pretty pants." Further down the order, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly claimed seventh, Red Bull’s returning Isack Hadjar was ninth, and Haas driver Esteban Ocon, whose future with the team looks uncertain for 2027, posted the tenth‑quickest time. The only interruption to the session came when Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku circuit, prompting a red flag.
Despite falling three race wins behind Antonelli in Madrid, Russell acknowledged that he is not realistically in contention for the championship at this stage, even though he remains the nearest challenger to his teammate in the points standings. Nevertheless, Russell expressed confidence in his form, noting that he feels capable of winning races again – a feat he has not achieved since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. His recent podium finishes in Baku over the past four years suggest he is well‑suited to the street circuit’s unique challenges. Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell after the second practice, 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 seems like a straight fight between the two Mercedes teammates." The weekend schedule is packed with action. 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 (the session officially starts at 9:30 am). The F2 Feature Race 1 kicks off at 11:10 am, leading into the build‑up for the Grand Prix qualifying at 12:30 pm.
Qualifying itself starts at 1:00 pm, with the results determining the grid for the main race. Later, at 3:00 pm, Ted’s Qualifying Notebook provides analysis of the session. Saturday, September 26, sees the continuation of the F2 program with the Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself starts at noon, with the race concluding around 2:00 pm when the chequered flag falls.
Post‑race reaction and analysis will be broadcast at 3:00 pm, again featuring Ted’s Notebook. All of these events are also 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 marking a triple‑header of races across the weekend.
Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, offering a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. This accessibility ensures fans can follow the high‑stakes action in Baku, where the combination of tight city streets, high‑speed straights, and technical corners provides a thrilling backdrop for both seasoned competitors and emerging talents alike.