George Russell claimed the fastest time in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli was forced to halt his run after a hydraulic failure interrupted his lap. Russell, who trails Antonelli by 81 points in the Drivers' Championship, needs to start closing the gap to his teammate quickly if he hopes to keep his title hopes alive, and his strong showing in Baku is an encouraging sign. The Mercedes driver benefited from a substantial slipstream provided by Fernando Alonso on his quickest lap, allowing him to edge out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and both Ferraris by roughly four tenths of a second.
Even before that decisive lap, Russell demonstrated impressive pace throughout the early portion of the session, hinting at a competitive package for the weekend. Antonelli’s day was derailed when a hydraulic issue forced him to pull off the track, costing him about 35 minutes of valuable running time. The setback means he will start the second practice session on Thursday at 13:00 GMT from a disadvantaged position, with less data to fine‑tune his car for the demanding Baku circuit. The Italian, who has secured victories in the last two races, knows that Baku’s high‑speed streets and tight corners often produce unexpected drama, and he is cautious about how his 81‑point lead over Russell – and a more than 100‑point margin over Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris – could be eroded quickly.
"Regarding Kimi’s performance, FP1 is the least representative session, so that works in his favour," commented Sky Sports F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick. "The bigger worry is the underlying cause of the hydraulic problem. We’ve heard reliability concerns about Mercedes earlier in the weekend; the team seemed to have improved over the last few races, but this issue could become a major talking point moving forward." In the midfield, Hamilton and Charles Leclerc posted their best times on the medium‑compound tyres, positioning themselves as potential contenders for pole position on Friday and the race win on Saturday afternoon. Red Bull arrived in Baku with a suite of new aerodynamic components, including a revised floor, updated sidepods, and redesigned mirrors.
Verstappen looked particularly quick on the hard tyres early in the session, suggesting that the upgrades are paying off. If you strip away the advantage Russell gained from Alonso’s slipstream, the front‑row battle appears to be a three‑way contest among Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris qualified sixth and fourteenth respectively, both more than a second off Russell’s pace despite recent aerodynamic upgrades that should favour high‑speed, non‑street circuits. Piastri at one point suspected damage to his car, but the team found nothing visible, while Norris has yet to reveal his true speed. Red Bull’s rookie Isack Hadjar, who has signed a contract extension through 2027, returned to the track for the first time since July after missing three race weekends with a wrist injury.
Unfortunately, he also lost around 30 minutes of running due to an engine problem, limiting his ability to gather data. This development opened the door for Liam Lawson, who stepped back into the Racing Bulls line‑up and launched from seventh on the grid, with teammate Arvid Lindblad close behind in eighth. Further down the order, Esteban Ocon – whose future with Haas looks uncertain as the team is expected to release him for 2027 – managed ninth place, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto secured tenth.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz experienced a minor brake fire early in the session, but the incident caused only a brief interruption and did not significantly affect his running, especially as the team introduced a substantial upgrade package for the weekend. The schedule for the remainder of the weekend is packed. Thursday, September 24, features F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, a team‑bosses press conference at noon, the second practice session for the Azerbaijan GP at 12:30 pm (starting at 1:00 pm), and The F1 Show at 2:15 pm.
Friday, September 25, includes the F2 sprint at 5:10 am, the third practice session at 9:15 am (starting at 9:30 am), the F2 feature race at 11:10 am, the build‑up to qualifying at 12:30 pm, and the Grand Prix qualifying itself at 1:00 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm. Saturday, September 26, hosts the second F2 feature race at 7:55 am, the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at noon, the chequered‑flag reaction at 2:00 pm, and Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 pm. All events are also streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 throughout the week, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix forming the centerpiece of a triple‑header of races.
The Baku event will take place on Saturday at midday, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract and with the option to cancel at any time. This accessibility ensures fans can follow the high‑stakes battle for the championship as the drivers push their machines to the limit on one of the most challenging street circuits on the calendar.