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 at the street circuit in Baku. 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 than the rest of the field, underscoring his pace on the demanding, narrow streets of the Azerbaijani capital. Antonelli, who currently sits 81 points ahead of Russell in the 2026 Drivers' Championship hunt, faced a difficult Thursday.
A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop mid‑session during FP1, costing him valuable track time. After the team replaced the engine, Antonelli was only able to rejoin the action with just over half an hour remaining in FP2. Despite the limited window, he managed to climb back up the order, ultimately recording the second‑fastest time, just 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 secured third place in the session, demonstrating that the upgraded Red Bull package is competitive, though he remained almost eight‑tenths of a second off the Mercedes duo. The rest of the grid lagged by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens struggling to match the pace.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupied fourth and fifth respectively, while McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took sixth and eighth. Norris was blunt about the gap, describing McLaren's deficit to the leaders as "pretty pants." Alpine's Pierre Gasly finished seventh, followed by Red Bull's returning driver Isack Hadjar in ninth and Haas driver Esteban Ocon in tenth. Ocon's future with the team appears uncertain, as reports suggest his seat may be reassigned for the 2027 season. The only interruption to the schedule came when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashed in the tight castle section of the Baku circuit, prompting a red flag.
The incident highlighted the unforgiving nature of the track, where even a small mistake can end a session abruptly. After falling more than three race wins behind Antonelli in the previous round at Madrid, Russell conceded that he is not realistically in contention for the championship at this stage, despite being the closest challenger to his teammate in the points tally. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism about his form, noting that he has not stood on a podium since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. "I feel like I'm back in race‑winning shape," Russell said on Wednesday, and his strong showing in Baku suggests he is on the right path.
The British driver has finished on the podium in three of the last four races at this venue, a testament to his comfort on the circuit. 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 sections where the car needs to be precise.
Antonelli tends to have a bit more understeer, so he pays a price there. It looks like a straight fight between the two Mercedes teammates." The weekend schedule is packed: Friday morning will feature the F2 Sprint, followed by the third practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at 9:15 am, and later the F2 Feature Race.
Qualifying for the Grand Prix is slated for 1:00 pm, with the race itself taking place on Saturday at midday. Additional coverage includes Ted's Qualifying Notebook and post‑race analysis. All sessions will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event and can be accessed via NOW, offering a contract‑free option for viewers. Overall, Russell's performance sets a high bar for the remainder of the weekend.
If he can maintain this level of speed and translate it into race pace, he could challenge Antonelli for the top step on the podium, while Verstappen and the rest of the field will be looking for any opportunity to close the gap. The Baku street circuit, with its blend of long straights and tight corners, promises further excitement as drivers push their machines to the limit in pursuit of valuable championship points.