George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the opening sessions of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli and setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting weekend in Baku. After topping the first practice (FP1) earlier in the day, Russell continued his dominance in the second free‑practice, posting a lap that was roughly half a second quicker than the best time recorded on the demanding street circuit. The Mercedes driver built on the momentum he had generated in FP1, where he had already demonstrated superior pace. In FP2, despite the challenges posed by the narrow, high‑speed sections of the Baku track, Russell managed to stay ahead of the pack, finishing the session with a comfortable margin over Antonelli, who could only manage second place with a time 0.552 seconds slower.
Antonelli’s run was hampered by a hydraulic leak that forced his car to stop midway through the opening session, limiting his track time and forcing an engine change before he could return for the final thirty minutes of FP2. He acknowledged the setback, 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 in the session, but still trailed the Mercedes pair by about 0.8 seconds, highlighting the gap between the leading duo and the rest of the field. The remaining competitors were more than a second off the pace, with the Ferraris and McLarens clustered behind. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupied fourth and fifth respectively, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took sixth and eighth spots.
Norris was candid about his team’s performance, describing the gap to the front as "pretty pants." Alpine’s Pierre Gasly managed seventh, followed by Red Bull’s returning driver Isack Hadjar in ninth and Haas driver Esteban Ocon in tenth. Ocon’s future with Haas appears uncertain as the team looks to re‑structure its driver line‑up for the 2027 season. The only interruption to the weekend’s schedule came when Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad crashed in the tight castle section of the circuit, prompting the sole red flag of the day.
Despite the incident, the session resumed and the drivers completed their runs. Russell, who fell more than three race wins behind Antonelli after the Madrid round, admitted that his championship hopes were realistic only in the context of being the nearest challenger to his teammate in the points standings. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in his form, noting that he had not won a race since the Austrian Grand Prix in June and that his recent podium finishes in Baku over the past four years suggested a positive trajectory.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell’s performance after FP2, 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." Looking ahead, the weekend schedule is packed.
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 itself starts at 9:30 am). The F2 Feature Race follows at 11:10 am, then a build‑up to the Grand Prix qualifying at 12:30 pm, with the official qualifying session slated for 1:00 pm. The day concludes with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm, all of which will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
Saturday, September 26, continues the action with the second F2 Feature Race at 7:55 am, a Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, and the main event – the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – kicking off at noon. The race will run until the chequered flag at approximately 2:00 pm, after which there will be a reaction segment at 3:00 pm, again featuring Ted’s Notebook. Fans can watch the entire triple‑header live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW – a contract‑free service that can be cancelled at any time. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane drama, and the Baku street circuit, with its blend of long straights and tight corners, promises plenty of excitement for drivers and spectators alike.
Russell’s early dominance sets up a compelling narrative as the championship battle intensifies, while Antonelli’s resilience after technical setbacks adds another layer of intrigue to the Mercedes rivalry. The stage is set for a thrilling qualifying session and a race that could reshape the points table heading into the next round.