George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the opening sessions of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli and cementing a dominant start to the weekend. After topping the first practice (FP1) earlier in the day, Russell returned for the second practice (FP2) and set the fastest lap with a half‑second margin on the demanding Baku street circuit, underscoring his pace and confidence on the narrow, high‑speed layout. Antonelli, who currently sits 81 points ahead of Russell in the 2026 Drivers' Championship, faced a disrupted Thursday. A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop mid‑session during FP1, costing him valuable track time.
After an engine swap, the Italian driver managed to get back on the track with just over 30 minutes remaining in FP2. Despite the limited window, he quickly climbed the order, ultimately posting the second‑quickest time, only 0.552 seconds slower than Russell.
"We lost quite a few laps in FP1 and missing half of FP2 is never ideal, especially on a street circuit," Antonelli remarked. "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, showcasing the upgraded Red Bull package, though he remained roughly 0.8 seconds off the Mercedes duo. The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens struggling to match the pace at the front. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupied fourth and fifth respectively, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri rounded out the top eight in sixth and eighth positions.
Norris lamented the team's performance gap, describing McLaren's deficit to the leaders as "pretty pants." Pierre Gasly finished seventh for Alpine, and the returning Isack Hadjar placed ninth for Red Bull. Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain beyond 2026, was tenth fastest. The only interruption to the weekend’s schedule came when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku circuit, prompting a red flag. Russell, who had fallen more than three race wins behind Antonelli after the Madrid round, acknowledged that he was not realistically in contention for the championship at this stage, despite being the nearest challenger among his teammates in the points tally.
Nevertheless, he expressed optimism about his form, noting that he felt capable of winning races again – a feat he has not achieved since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. His recent podium streak in Baku – three podiums in the last four years – suggests he knows how to extract performance from this 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 bits 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 with supporting series and key sessions. On Friday, September 25, the day begins with an F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, followed by the third practice for the Azerbaijan GP at 9:15 am (session start at 9:30 am).
The F2 Feature Race 1 runs at 11:10 am, leading into the GP qualifying buildup at 12:30 pm, with the official qualifying session commencing at 1:00 pm. The afternoon continues with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm. Saturday, September 26, features the F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, a Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, and the main event – the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – kicking off at noon. The race concludes with the chequered flag at 2:00 pm, followed by post‑race analysis and Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 pm.
All events are also broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be a triple‑header of races, with the Baku round offering a blend of high‑speed straights and tight corners that test driver skill and car setup. Fans can stream the action via Sky Sports with NOW, enjoying a contract‑free experience and the flexibility to cancel at any time. This race promises to further shape the championship narrative, especially as Mercedes teammates battle for supremacy while Antonelli maintains his lead in the drivers' standings.