George Russell Leads Mercedes One-Two in Azerbaijan GP Second Practice

George Russell set the pace in second practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes one-two on the streets of Baku. The Englishman's best lap was more than half a second quicker than teammate Kimi Antonelli, who recovered from a hydraulics issue and an engine change to take second.

Why it matters:

Mercedes' strong showing at a circuit that punishes even minor mistakes is a clear signal of intent. Antonelli enters the weekend leading the drivers' championship, and a competitive package in Baku could help him extend his advantage. The street track's unique combination of high-speed straights and tight corners demands a balanced car, so the team's one-two is an encouraging sign for the races ahead.

The details:

• Russell topped the timesheets with a lap 0.5s faster than Antonelli's best effort.
• Antonelli missed the first half of the session as Mercedes worked on his car after a hydraulics issue in FP1, followed by an engine change.
• Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
• Lewis Hamilton was fifth, but the gap to Russell was 1.3s, a notable margin on the short lap.
• The session was clean, with no red flags, allowing teams to gather valuable data for Saturday's race.

What's next:

With the race scheduled for Saturday, the compressed weekend means qualifying will be the next major test. Mercedes' one-lap pace looks strong, but the true picture will emerge in qualifying and the race itself. Antonelli's earlier mechanical issues will also be monitored, though he managed to log enough laps to feel comfortable in the car.