George Russell emerged as the quickest driver in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, posting the fastest lap despite the fact that championship frontrunner Kimi Antonelli was forced to halt his run due to a hydraulic failure. The British driver’s performance offers a glimmer of hope for Mercedes, which currently trails Antonelli by 81 points in the Drivers' Championship.
With the title race still in its early stages, Russell must begin to close the gap to his teammate quickly if he hopes to keep the championship battle alive. Russell’s best time was achieved with a substantial tow from Fernando Alonso, allowing him to shave four tenths off the pace of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and the two Ferraris. Even before that slipstream‑aided lap, Russell had already demonstrated impressive speed throughout the session, suggesting that the Mercedes chassis is finally finding its rhythm on the demanding Baku street circuit. Antonelli, meanwhile, lost roughly 35 minutes of valuable track time when a hydraulic issue forced him to pull into the pits.
The setback means the Italian will start the second practice session at a disadvantage, having to make up lost data while his rivals continue to fine‑tune their setups. Antonelli has been dominant in recent weeks, winning the last two races, but Baku is notorious for its high‑speed straights, tight corners, and the occasional unexpected incident. The 81‑point lead he holds over Russell, and the more than 100‑point cushion he enjoys over Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, could be eroded quickly if reliability problems persist. "In terms of Kimi's session, FP1 is the least representative session, so that's a blessing," said Sky Sports F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick.
"The bigger concern is why they had the issue. We knew reliability was a big talking point for Mercedes earlier in the session; it seems to have been in a much better place the last few races especially, but that's going to be the biggest concern." Hamilton and Charles Leclerc posted their quickest laps on the medium‑compound tyres, indicating that both Mercedes and Ferrari will be aiming for a strong qualifying performance on Friday and a possible race win on Saturday. Red Bull, not to be outdone, introduced a suite of new aerodynamic components for Baku, including a revised floor, updated side‑pods and fresh mirror designs. Verstappen appeared particularly quick on the hard tyres early in the session, hinting that the Dutch driver could be a serious contender for the front of the grid.
If the slipstream benefit that helped Russell achieve his best lap is removed, the timing suggests that Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari will be locked in a tight battle for pole position. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris qualified sixth and fourteenth respectively, both more than a second off Russell’s pace despite recent upgrades to their cars. The British team’s developments are largely aerodynamic, which tend to pay dividends on high‑speed, non‑street circuits rather than the twisty, low‑speed sections that characterize Baku.
Consequently, McLaren still has ample time to extract performance in the remaining practice sessions. At one stage, Piastri feared he had sustained damage to his car, but the team found nothing visible during their inspection.
Norris, on the other hand, has yet to reveal his true speed, leaving his weekend prospects uncertain. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, who has been confirmed to stay with the team through 2027, returned to action for the first time since July after missing three race weekends due to a wrist injury. Unfortunately, he also lost about 30 minutes of running because of an engine problem, further limiting his data collection. This development opened the door for Liam Lawson, who rejoined the Racing Bulls lineup and launched from the start line in seventh place, with teammate Arvid Lindblad close behind in eighth.
Esteban Ocon, whose future at Haas looks precarious as the team is expected to release him after the season, managed to finish ninth in the session. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto secured tenth place, showing that the newcomer’s programme is progressing steadily. Williams driver Carlos Sainz experienced a minor brake fire early in the session, but the incident cost him little track time.
The British outfit has introduced a significant upgrade package for the weekend, which could prove decisive as the race approaches. The schedule for the weekend is packed.
Thursday, September 24, sees the start of F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, followed by the team bosses’ press conference at noon, and the second practice session for the Azerbaijan GP kicking off at 1 pm. Later in the afternoon, the F1 Show will air at 2:15 pm. Friday, September 25, features the F2 sprint at 5:10 am, the third practice session for the GP at 9:15 am, the F2 feature race at 11:10 am, and the build‑up to qualifying at 12:30 pm, with the actual qualifying session slated for 1 pm. The day concludes with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3 pm.
Saturday, September 26, includes the second F2 feature race at 7:55 am, the GP build‑up at 10:30 am, and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself at noon, followed by the chequered flag ceremony at 2 pm and a post‑race reaction segment at 3 pm. Sunday wraps up the weekend with additional analysis and commentary. All of these events will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time.
The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane excitement, and the Baku race, with its unique blend of street‑circuit challenges and long straights, promises to be a pivotal round in the championship battle. Russell’s strong showing in practice could signal a shift in momentum for Mercedes, while Antonelli’s reliability woes serve as a reminder that even the most dominant drivers are vulnerable to technical gremlins.
The stage is set for a thrilling qualifying session and an even more dramatic race, where strategy, tyre management and outright speed will determine who climbs onto the podium in the Azerbaijani capital.