George Russell delivered a commanding performance in the second practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing his title‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli and cementing Mercedes' early dominance on the Baku street circuit. After topping the first practice earlier in the day, Russell once again set the benchmark, clocking a lap that was roughly half a second quicker than Antonelli's best effort.
This margin is significant on a circuit as demanding as Baku, where precision and confidence are essential. Antonelli, who currently leads Russell by 81 points in the 2026 Drivers' Championship hunt, faced a challenging Thursday.
A hydraulic leak forced his car to stop abruptly during the opening practice, cutting his running short. After the team replaced the engine, he was only able to return to the track with just over half an hour remaining in the second session. Despite the limited time, Antonelli managed to climb back up the order, ultimately finishing second, just 0.552 seconds behind Russell. "We lost quite a few laps in FP1 and missing half of FP2 is never ideal, especially on a street circuit," Antonelli admitted 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." His comments highlighted both the frustration of a disrupted schedule and the optimism that the team could still extract performance from the car.
Max Verstappen, driving an upgraded Red Bull, secured third place, ending a promising opening day for the Dutch driver. However, his gap to the leading Mercedes duo was around 0.8 seconds, underlining the advantage Mercedes currently enjoys on this particular layout.
The rest of the field trailed by more than a second, with the Ferraris and McLarens struggling to match the pace of the leading pair. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupied fourth and fifth places respectively, while McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished sixth and eighth. Norris was candid about his team's performance, describing McLaren's deficit to the front as "pretty pants," a colloquial way of expressing disappointment.
Alpine's Pierre Gasly took seventh, and Red Bull's returning driver Isack Hadjar managed ninth. Haas driver Esteban Ocon, whose future with the team looks uncertain for 2027, rounded out the top ten. The session was briefly halted when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashed in the narrow castle section of the Baku circuit, prompting the only red flag of the day. The incident served as a reminder of the circuit's unforgiving nature, where a small mistake can quickly end a run.
Reflecting on his position in the championship, Russell acknowledged that after falling more than three wins behind Antonelli in Madrid, he is not realistically in contention for the title at this stage. Nevertheless, he remains confident in his ability to win races, a feat he has not achieved since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
His recent podium finishes in Baku over the past four years suggest he is well‑placed to capitalize on Mercedes' strong package. "He's driving well," Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve commented after the second practice. "Where he makes the difference is in all the narrow sections 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." 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 GP at 9:15 am (the session itself starts at 9:30 am).
Later, the F2 Feature Race kicks off 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 analysis and insights for fans. Saturday, September 26, continues the excitement with the second F2 Feature Race at 7:55 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am. The main event, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, begins at noon, with the race itself and the subsequent chequered flag ceremony slated for 2:00 pm.
Post‑race reactions and commentary will be aired at 3:00 pm, accompanied by Ted's Notebook for a deeper dive into the race's key moments. All of this action will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane drama, and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal chapter in the championship narrative, especially as Mercedes looks to consolidate its early‑season advantage while Antonelli and his rivals strive to close the gap.