Antonelli: Baku practice 'a good recovery' despite mechanical setbacks

Kimi Antonelli believes his practice running for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was 'a good recovery' after a hydraulic issue and a power unit change limited his track time. Despite the setbacks, the Mercedes driver ended up fifth in FP1 and second in FP2, showing strong pace on the Baku street circuit.

Why it matters:

Antonelli enters the weekend with a commanding 81-point lead in the drivers' standings after his win in Madrid. A strong result in Baku would further solidify his championship position, and his resilience in practice suggests Mercedes has a competitive package on low-drag circuits.

The details:

• Antonelli suffered a hydraulic issue in FP1 that ended his session prematurely.
• A new power unit was fitted before FP2 due to fire damage, causing him to miss the first half of the session.
• Despite the limited running, he still managed P5 in FP1 and P2 in FP2, just over half a second behind teammate George Russell, who topped both sessions.
• Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord cautioned that the gaps are not representative, noting that rivals like McLaren and Red Bull brought significant updates.

What's next:

Lord expects the field to tighten once teams run comparable tyre laps, but believes Mercedes should be in the mix for pole on a low-drag circuit. Qualifying and the race are set for Saturday, with Antonelli looking to extend his championship lead.