George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the opening sessions of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli and cementing his position at the front of the weekend's action. After topping the first practice (FP1) earlier in the day, Russell continued his dominance in the second practice (FP2), posting a lap time that was roughly half a second quicker around Baku's demanding street circuit.
The Mercedes driver built on the momentum he had shown in the earlier session, where he had already set the fastest time, and once again proved why he is the pace setter for the team. His lap was a full 0.552 seconds ahead of Antonelli, who, despite a challenging Thursday, managed to climb back into second place on the timesheet after a significant setback.
Antonelli's Thursday was disrupted by a hydraulic leak that forced his car to stop mid‑session during FP1. The issue limited his track time, and he lost a substantial number of laps.
After an engine swap, the young Italian was only able to return to the track with just over half an hour left in the second practice period. Nevertheless, he made the most of the limited window, delivering a solid drive that placed him second overall, albeit still more than half a second behind 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, finishing about 0.8 seconds off the leading Mercedes duo. While his pace was respectable, the gap to the front highlighted the advantage the Mercedes drivers currently hold on the Baku track.
The rest of the field trailed by more than a second. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes occupied fourth and fifth places respectively. McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri filled the sixth and eighth slots, with Norris commenting that the team's overall deficit to the leaders was "pretty pants," underscoring the challenge McLaren faces in closing the performance gap. Alpine's Pierre Gasly took seventh, while Red Bull's returning driver Isack Hadjar managed ninth.
Haas driver Esteban Ocon, whose future with the team looks uncertain for the 2027 season, rounded out the top ten. The only interruption to the weekend's schedule came when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the circuit, prompting a red flag.
The incident highlighted the unforgiving nature of Baku's layout, where even a small mistake can end a session. Russell, who had fallen more than three race wins behind Antonelli in the previous Madrid round, admitted that a realistic championship challenge was out of reach at this stage.
However, he emphasized that he feels his form is returning, noting that his last victory came at the Austrian Grand Prix in June. The Baku weekend marks a positive step in his quest to get back to winning ways, especially given his strong podium record at this venue over the past four years. Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve praised Russell after the second practice, saying, "He's driving well.
Where he makes the difference is in the narrow sections where the car needs to be precise. Antonelli tends to have a bit more understeer, which costs him a little time. It looks like a straight fight between the two Mercedes teammates." The schedule for the weekend is packed with action. 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 (the session officially starts at 9:30 am).
Later in the day, the F2 Feature Race 1 takes place at 11:10 am, and the Grand Prix qualifying build‑up 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. Saturday, September 26, kicks off 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, starts at noon, with the chequered flag and post‑race reaction scheduled for 2:00 pm.
Ted's Notebook wraps up the day's coverage at 3:00 pm. All of these sessions are also broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix forming part of a triple‑header of races that weekend. Viewers can stream Sky Sports via NOW, enjoying a contract‑free experience with the option to cancel at any time.
This accessibility ensures fans can follow the high‑stakes action in Baku, where the combination of high‑speed straights and tight city corners creates a unique challenge for drivers and teams alike. Overall, Russell's performance in Baku underscores his resurgence and the strength of the Mercedes package on street circuits. While Antonelli remains a formidable opponent, especially given his substantial championship lead, the gap in lap times suggests that precision and consistency will be key factors as the season progresses. The upcoming qualifying session will be crucial in determining the starting grid, and both Mercedes drivers will be eager to translate their practice speed into race‑day results.