George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the opening sessions of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli and reinforcing Mercedes' early dominance this season. After topping the first practice (FP1) earlier in the day, Russell returned for the second practice (FP2) and posted a lap that was roughly half a second quicker around Baku’s demanding street circuit, underscoring his pace and confidence on the narrow, high‑speed layout.
Antonelli, who currently leads Russell by 81 points in the 2026 Drivers' Championship battle, faced a challenging Thursday. A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop mid‑session during FP1, cutting his track time dramatically.
After a swift engine swap, the Italian driver managed to get back on the track with just over half an hour left in FP2. Despite the limited running, he climbed to second place on the timesheet, finishing 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, driving an upgraded Red Bull, secured third place in the session, but his best time was still about 0.8 seconds off the Mercedes duo, highlighting the gap between the leading team and the rest of the field.
The remainder of the grid trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens clustered together. Charles Leclerc claimed fourth, while Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri occupied sixth and eighth respectively, with Norris humorously describing the team's deficit to the front as "pretty pants." Pierre Gasly placed seventh for Alpine, and Red Bull’s returning driver Isack Hadjar managed ninth, despite a relatively modest showing for the team. Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain beyond 2027, rounded out the top ten.
The only interruption to the session came when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashed in the tight castle section of the Baku circuit, prompting the sole red flag of the day. After falling more than three race wins behind Antonelli at the previous round in Madrid, Russell candidly acknowledged that a realistic championship fight was out of reach at this stage, even though he remains Antonelli's closest rival in the points tally. Nevertheless, Russell expressed optimism about his form, noting that he has not stood on a podium since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
His recent results in Baku—where he has finished on the podium three times in the last four years—suggest that the momentum is shifting back in his favour. Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell’s performance after FP2, 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). Later, the F2 Feature Race 1 will run at 11:10 am, and the GP qualifying build‑up kicks off at 12:30 pm, leading into the official qualifying session at 1:00 pm.
The day concludes with Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm, providing expert analysis of the session. Saturday, September 26, continues the frenzy 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 expected around 2:00 pm. Post‑race reaction and analysis will be broadcast at 3:00 pm, again featuring Ted's Notebook.
All of these events will also be available live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season remains in full swing, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marking a crucial triple‑header weekend for teams and drivers alike. Fans can stream the coverage via Sky Sports with NOW, enjoying a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. As the championship unfolds, the rivalry between Russell and Antonelli promises to be a central storyline, especially as the Mercedes pair continue to push each other to the limit on one of the sport's most demanding circuits.