George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the opening practice 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 session (FP2) and set the fastest lap with a margin of roughly half a second, a significant gap on the tight, twisty layout that demands both precision and bravery. The Italian rookie Antonelli, who currently sits 81 points ahead of Russell in the 2026 Drivers' Championship chase, faced a challenging Thursday. A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop midway through the opening session, 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 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 explained after the session.
"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, driving an upgraded Red Bull, secured third place in the session, but remained a full 0.8 seconds off the pace of the Mercedes pair.
The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens struggling to match the top three. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupied fourth and fifth respectively, while McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri filled the sixth and eighth slots. Norris was candid about the performance gap, describing McLaren's deficit to the front as "pretty pants." Pierre Gasly placed seventh for Alpine, and the returning Isack Hadjar, now with Red Bull, recorded the ninth‑fastest time. Esteban Ocon, whose future with Haas looks uncertain beyond 2027, was tenth quickest.
The only interruption to the schedule came when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku circuit, prompting the sole red flag of the day. Russell, who fell more than three race wins behind Antonelli at the previous round 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 standings. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in his form, noting that he feels capable of winning races again—a feat he has not achieved since his victory at the Austrian Grand Prix in June. His recent podium record in Baku—three podiums in the last four years—underscores his affinity for the circuit.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell after the second session, 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 seems like a straight fight between the two Mercedes teammates." Looking ahead, the weekend schedule is packed.
On Friday, September 25, the day begins with the F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, followed by the Azerbaijan GP Practice Three at 9:15 am (session start at 9:30 am). The F2 Feature Race kicks off at 11:10 am, leading into the GP qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm and the official qualifying session at 1:00 pm.
Later, at 3:00 pm, Ted's Qualifying Notebook will provide analysis. Saturday, September 26, continues the action with the F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, and the main event—the Azerbaijan Grand Prix—starting at noon. The race will conclude with the chequered flag at approximately 2:00 pm, followed by a reaction segment at 3:00 pm, and another edition of Ted's Notebook.
All sessions will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with a flexible, contract‑free subscription that can be cancelled at any time. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane excitement, and the Baku race promises another thrilling chapter in the championship battle.