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 a promising weekend in Baku. After topping the earlier Friday practice, Russell once again posted the fastest time in the second practice session, clocking a half‑second advantage on the demanding street circuit.
His teammate Antonelli, who currently leads the 2026 Drivers' Championship by 81 points, faced a disrupted Thursday after a hydraulic leak forced his car to stop mid‑run in the first practice. The Italian was able to return to the track with just over half an hour left in the second session following an engine change, clawing his way back to second place, 0.552 seconds behind Russell. Antonelli admitted that losing several laps in FP1 and missing half of FP2 was far from ideal, especially on a circuit where track limits and surface changes demand maximum concentration.
"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," he said, emphasizing his optimism despite the setbacks. Max Verstappen secured third place in the upgraded Red Bull, though his best time remained roughly 0.8 seconds off the leading Mercedes duo.
The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens grouped together. 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 McLaren’s gap to the front, describing it as "pretty pants". Further down the order, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly claimed seventh, Red Bull’s returning Isack Hadjar was ninth, and Haas driver Esteban Ocon, whose future with the team looks uncertain beyond 2026, posted the tenth‑quickest time. A brief red‑flag period was triggered when Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku lap, halting the session briefly. Russell, who fell more than three race wins behind Antonelli in Madrid, acknowledged 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 confidence in his form, noting that his last victory came at the Austrian Grand Prix in June and that he has enjoyed podium finishes in three of the last four Baku races. "He's driving well," remarked Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve after the second practice, adding that the key differentiator lies in the narrow sections of the circuit where precision is paramount. "Antonelli tends to have a bit more understeer, which costs him time in those tight corners.
It looks like a straight fight between the two Mercedes drivers." The weekend schedule is packed with action. On Friday, September 25, the day begins with the F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, followed by the third practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at 9:15 am (the session itself starts at 9:30 am). Later, the F2 Feature Race 1 takes place at 11:10 am, and the qualifying build‑up for the Grand Prix starts at 12:30 pm, leading into the official qualifying session at 1:00 pm. The day concludes with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm, providing in‑depth analysis of the session.
Saturday, September 26, continues the excitement with the F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am. The main event, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, kicks off at noon, with the race itself followed by post‑race reactions at 2:00 pm and another edition of Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 pm. All sessions are also broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The 2026 Formula 1 season remains a triple‑header of races this week, with the Baku Grand Prix forming the centerpiece of a busy schedule. Fans can stream Sky Sports via NOW, enjoying a contract‑free experience with the option to cancel at any time. The combination of high‑speed straights, tight city corners, and a passionate local crowd makes the Azerbaijan Grand Prix a unique challenge for drivers and teams alike, and Russell’s early dominance suggests that Mercedes will be a strong contender as the weekend unfolds.