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 position at the front of the weekend’s action. After topping the first practice (FP1) earlier in the day, Russell continued his momentum into the second free‑practice session (FP2), posting a lap that was roughly half a second quicker around Baku's demanding street circuit.
This margin underscored his adaptability to the tight, high‑speed layout that challenges even the most experienced drivers. Antonelli, who currently sits 81 points ahead of Russell in the battle for the 2026 Drivers' Championship, faced a difficult Thursday. A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop mid‑session during FP1, costing him valuable track time. After a rapid engine swap, he managed to re‑enter the track with just over half an hour remaining in FP2.
Despite the limited window, the Italian driver climbed back up the order, ultimately securing second place on the timesheet, just 0.552 seconds shy of Russell’s best lap. Reflecting on his compromised schedule, Antonelli said, "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." His comments highlighted both the frustration of lost data and the optimism of a solid rebound under pressure. Max Verstappen, driving an upgraded Red Bull, rounded out the top three, finishing third despite a gap of roughly 0.8 seconds to the leading Mercedes duo. The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens unable to match the pace of the Mercedes cars. Charles Leclerc claimed fourth place, while Lewis Hamilton occupied fifth.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri followed in sixth and eighth respectively, with Norris bluntly describing the team's performance gap as "pretty pants." Further down the order, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly secured seventh, Red Bull’s returning Isack Hadjar took ninth, and Haas driver Esteban Ocon—whose seat is rumored to be up for grabs in 2027—finished tenth. 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. Russell, who had previously fallen more than three wins behind Antonelli after the Madrid round, acknowledged that his championship hopes were slim at this stage, despite being the closest challenger to his teammate in the points tally. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in his form, noting that he had not stood on a podium since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
His strong showing in Baku—where he has earned a podium finish in three of the last four races—suggests he may be rediscovering the race‑winning pace he once enjoyed. 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 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 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 kicks off at 11:10 am, leading into the GP qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm and the official qualifying session at 1:00 pm.
Later, at 3:00 pm, Ted’s Qualifying Notebook provides analysis of the session. Saturday, September 26, continues the excitement with the second F2 Feature Race 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. At 3:00 pm, Ted’s Notebook offers a recap of the race.
Both F2 races 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 serving as the centerpiece of a triple‑header of races. Viewers can stream Sky Sports via NOW without a long‑term contract and cancel at any time, ensuring flexible access to the high‑octane action in Baku.