George Russell emerged as the quickest driver in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, capitalising on a strong slipstream from Fernando Alonso to post a lap that outpaced Max Verstappen and both Ferrari cars by roughly four tenths of a second. The Mercedes driver’s performance signalled a promising start to the weekend for a team that is under pressure to close the substantial points gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli, who currently enjoys an 81‑point lead over Russell in the Drivers' Championship and a margin of more than 100 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, suffered a hydraulic failure that forced him to bring his car to a halt after just 25 minutes of running.
The problem cost the Italian star around 35 minutes of valuable track time, leaving him at a disadvantage heading into the second practice session scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Despite the setback, Antonelli’s recent form – having won the previous two races – suggests he will be keen to recover quickly, especially given the notoriously demanding nature of the Baku street circuit, which often produces unexpected drama. "FP1 is the least representative session for Kimi," noted Sky Sports F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick. "The bigger worry is the reliability issue.
We knew Mercedes had been talking about durability earlier in the weekend, and they seemed to have sorted it in recent races, but this will be a major concern for them moving forward." The session also highlighted the competitive landscape among the top teams. Hamilton and Charles Leclerc each set their fastest laps on the medium‑compound tyres, indicating they could be in contention for pole position on Friday and a strong chance of victory on Saturday. Red Bull arrived in Baku with a suite of new aerodynamic components, including a revised floor, updated side‑pods, and modified mirrors. Verstappen demonstrated impressive early‑session pace on the hard tyres, suggesting the team’s upgrades are paying dividends.
When the slipstream effect from Alonso is removed from Russell’s best lap, the time gaps between the leading cars narrow, underscoring how closely matched Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari are at the front of the grid. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, despite benefiting from recent aerodynamic upgrades, found themselves sixth and fourteenth respectively, more than a second off Russell’s benchmark.
Their upgrades are expected to deliver greater benefit on high‑speed circuits rather than the tight, twisty layout of Baku, giving them ample time to refine their package over the remaining practice sessions. Piastri at one point believed his car had sustained damage, but the team reported no visible issues. Norris, meanwhile, has yet to unleash his true speed, leaving McLaren hopeful that further development will close the gap. Red Bull’s reserve driver Isack Hadjar, confirmed to stay with the team through 2027, returned to the track for the first time since July after missing three race weekends due to a wrist injury.
Unfortunately, his run was curtailed by an engine problem that cost him roughly 30 minutes of data collection. Liam Lawson, stepping in for the Racing Bulls, launched from the start line in seventh place, while his teammate Arvid Lindblad occupied eighth.
Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain as the team is expected to release him after the season, managed to qualify ninth. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top ten in tenth place. 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 overall running, especially as the team has introduced a substantial upgrade package for the weekend. The schedule for the remainder of the weekend is packed with action.
Thursday sees the second practice session at 1 pm, followed by the F1 Show at 2:15 pm. Friday’s agenda includes the F2 Sprint, the third practice session at 9:30 am, the F2 Feature Race, and the crucial qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at 1 pm.
Saturday will host the second F2 Feature Race, the Grand Prix itself at midday, and post‑race analysis, while Sunday offers a final wrap‑up and reaction segment. 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 fans to cancel at any time. The Baku race, part of a triple‑header weekend, promises high‑speed thrills on its iconic street circuit, and the early practice results suggest a tightly contested battle for pole and the eventual race win.
In summary, Russell’s early pace provides a morale boost for Mercedes as they strive to narrow the points deficit to Antonelli, whose hydraulic issue serves as a reminder of the fine line between reliability and performance in Formula 1. The upcoming sessions will be crucial for all teams to fine‑tune their setups, assess the impact of new parts, and strategise for the high‑stakes qualifying and race that lie ahead.