George Russell emerged as the quickest driver in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, delivering a strong statement for the Mercedes team as they look to close the sizeable gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The Italian rookie, who currently enjoys an 81‑point advantage over Russell in the drivers' standings, encountered a hydraulic failure that forced him to pull off the track, costing him roughly 35 minutes of valuable running time. This mechanical hiccup not only hampered his own preparation but also placed him on the back foot ahead of the second practice later on Thursday. Russell’s pace was boosted by a substantial slipstream from Fernando Alonso, which helped him shave four‑tenths off the times of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and both Ferraris on his fastest lap.
Even without the aerodynamic tow, Russell demonstrated impressive speed throughout the session, suggesting that Mercedes may finally be finding the consistency needed to challenge for the title. The British driver is currently 81 points behind Antonelli and must start narrowing that margin quickly if he hopes to keep his championship hopes alive, especially given the early‑season dominance that Antonelli has shown. Antonelli’s hydraulic issue raised concerns about the reliability of his car. While he has won the previous two races, Baku’s street circuit is notorious for its unforgiving nature and frequent surprises.
The 81‑point lead he holds over Russell, combined with a more than 100‑point cushion ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, could evaporate rapidly if his car’s reliability does not improve. Sky Sports F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick noted that the first practice session is often the least representative of a weekend’s true performance levels, but she emphasized that the underlying cause of Antonelli’s problem will be a focal point for the team moving forward. Other front‑runners also posted strong times.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc set their best laps on the medium‑compound tyres, positioning themselves as serious contenders for pole position on Friday and the race win on Saturday. Red Bull, meanwhile, introduced several new components for the Baku weekend, including a revised floor, updated side‑pods, and redesigned mirrors. Verstappen looked particularly quick on the hard tyres early in the session, indicating that the team’s aerodynamic updates may be paying dividends.
If the slipstream advantage that helped Russell is removed, the battle for the top step of the podium appears to be a three‑way fight among Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris found themselves in sixth and fourteenth places respectively, more than a second off Russell’s best time despite recent upgrades to their cars. The team’s aerodynamic modifications are expected to deliver greater benefits on high‑speed, non‑street circuits, and they still have ample time to fine‑tune their package across the remaining practice sessions.
Piastri briefly suspected damage to his car during the run, but engineers reported no visible issues. Norris, on the other hand, has yet to unleash his full potential, suggesting that the Australian may still have hidden speed to reveal as the weekend progresses.
Red Bull’s young talent 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 with a wrist injury. Unfortunately, he also suffered a setback, losing about 30 minutes of running due to an engine problem. This development paved the way for Liam Lawson, who rejoined the Racing Bulls lineup, to launch from seventh on the grid, with teammate Arvid Lindblad occupying eighth. In the midfield, Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain as the team is expected to part ways with him after this season, managed a ninth‑place finish.
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top ten. Williams driver Carlos Sainz experienced a minor brake fire early in the session, but the incident caused only a brief interruption to his running, and the team has introduced a significant upgrade package that could prove decisive later in the weekend.
The schedule for the remainder of the weekend is packed. Thursday will feature the second practice session at 1 pm, followed by the F1 Show at 2:15 pm. Friday’s agenda includes the sprint race, the third practice session, and the crucial qualifying session that determines the starting grid for Saturday’s race. Saturday will host the main Grand Prix, with post‑race analysis and reactions slated throughout the afternoon.
All sessions are being broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event. Overall, the first practice in Baku set the tone for an exciting weekend.
Russell’s early speed signals that Mercedes may finally be closing the gap to the championship leader, while Antonelli’s hydraulic failure serves as a reminder that reliability will be a key factor in the title fight. With multiple teams bringing new parts and upgrades, and several drivers still finding their rhythm, fans can expect a highly competitive qualifying and a thrilling race on Saturday. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver drama and high‑stakes battles, and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal chapter in the championship narrative.