George Russell delivered a standout performance in the opening sessions of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, posting the fastest lap and leaving his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli in his wake. After already topping the first practice session earlier in the day, Russell extended his advantage in the second free‑practice, clocking a half‑second quicker around Baku's demanding street circuit. This solidified his position at the top of the timing sheets and set the tone for a promising weekend for the Mercedes driver. Antonelli, who currently holds an 81‑point lead over Russell in the battle for the 2026 Drivers' Championship, faced a difficult Thursday.
A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop midway through the opening session, cutting his track time short. After an engine swap, he managed to get back on the track with just over half an hour remaining in the second practice.
Despite the limited running, Antonelli fought his way up to second place, finishing 0.552 seconds behind Russell. He acknowledged the setbacks, saying, "We lost quite a few laps in FP1 and missing half of FP2 is never ideal, especially on a street circuit. 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, driving an upgraded Red Bull, secured third place, though he remained almost a full second off the pace set by the Mercedes pair. The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens unable to close the gap. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupied fourth and fifth respectively, while McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took sixth and eighth.
Norris was candid about McLaren's performance, describing the gap to the leaders as "pretty pants." Pierre Gasly placed seventh for Alpine, and the returning Isack Hadjar, now with Red Bull, finished ninth. Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain beyond 2027, rounded out the top ten. A brief interruption to the session occurred when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku layout, prompting the only red flag of the day. Russell reflected on his standing in the championship after falling further behind Antonelli in Madrid, where he was more than three wins off the leader.
He admitted that, while he is the closest challenger to his teammate in the points, a realistic title fight remains out of reach at this stage. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence in his form, noting that he feels capable of winning again—a feat he hasn't achieved since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. His recent podium streak in Baku, with three podiums in the last four years, underscores his affinity for the circuit. Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell after the second practice, stating, "He's driving well.
Where he makes the difference is all the narrow bits where the car needs to be precise. Antonelli drives with more understeer, so pays a bit of 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 program includes the F2 Sprint, the third practice session for the Azerbaijan GP, the F2 Feature Race, and the Grand Prix qualifying, followed by a qualifying notebook from Ted. Saturday, September 26, features the second F2 Feature Race, the main Grand Prix build‑up, the race itself at midday, and post‑race analysis, all broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be a triple‑header of races, with the Baku Grand Prix marking a critical juncture for the championship battle. Fans can stream Sky Sports via NOW without a long‑term contract and cancel at any time, ensuring easy access to live coverage of the high‑speed drama unfolding on the streets of Azerbaijan.