Mercedes leave F1 rivals facing awkward questions after dominant Baku display

Mercedes left the rest of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix field facing awkward questions after a dominant opening day in Baku. George Russell topped both practice sessions, and team-mate Kimi Antonelli made it a one-two in FP2.

Russell's 1:43.347 in the afternoon was more than eight-tenths clear of the nearest Red Bull — too large a gap for fuel loads or engine modes. With Baku's long back straight rewarding low-drag efficiency, the W17's straight-line strength is the core of Mercedes' advantage.

Why it matters:

Mercedes and Ferrari brought no new aero parts, so this is underlying performance rather than an upgrade step. Red Bull arrived with its final major development package of 2026, and McLaren introduced an eight-part update — yet neither closed the gap.

The details:

• Mercedes: Russell was fastest in both sessions, with Antonelli backing him up in P2. The low-drag concept is thriving where straight-line efficiency is critical.
• Red Bull: Five updates including revised floor and diffuser geometries, modified split lines and new cooling louvres. Max Verstappen was P2 in FP1 and P3 in FP2, but still 0.827s off Russell's benchmark.
• Ferrari: No updates, with the programme focused on qualifying preparation. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton ended FP2 in P4 and P5, seemingly struggling with tyre warm-up on single laps.
• McLaren: An eight-part update — revised sidepod inlets, engine cover, floor edges, diffuser, rear suspension fairings and the reintroduced H-wing — was disrupted by floorboard attachment issues. Oscar Piastri was P6/P8, while Lando Norris improved from P14 to P6.

Between the lines:

Baku's low-grip surface and heavy braking zones into Turns 1 and 3 caused front locking and brake balance complaints across the field. The day highlighted the circuit's defining compromise — low drag on the straights versus mechanical grip through the castle section — and Mercedes has balanced it best.

What's next:

Qualifying moves to Friday to accommodate Azerbaijan's National Day of Remembrance. Mercedes starts as clear favourite on raw pace, but Red Bull's final push, Ferrari's qualifying-focused approach and McLaren's unresolved floor troubles leave genuine uncertainty once the sessions that count begin.