Mercedes' Russell dominates Baku practice as Red Bull concedes gap

George Russell swept both practice sessions at the Baku City Circuit, putting Mercedes a commanding 0.827s clear of the field. Red Bull admits it didn't expect such a deficit, while Mercedes itself warns that Thursday's times may not be fully representative.

Why it matters:

Mercedes' early pace comes without the long-awaited upgrade package that arrives in Malaysia. If the W17 is this quick already, rivals have reason to worry. Red Bull, bringing its final major RB22 upgrade this weekend, now faces the possibility that it may not be enough to close the gap. For championship leader Kimi Antonelli, a hydraulic issue in FP1 added an unwelcome complication on a street circuit where track time is precious.

The details:

• Russell topped both FP1 and FP2, with Max Verstappen second in the latter session but 0.827s behind.
• Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché: "I didn't expect this big gap, mainly on the straights... we have work to do."
• Isack Hadjar: "Mercedes are out of touch."
• Mercedes' deputy team principal Bradley Lord: "I don't think it's a representative gap... We ran more timed laps on the soft tyre."
• Antonelli's mechanics swapped his engine within 15 minutes of FP1 ending, allowing him to salvage FP2. No penalty was incurred.
• Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur downplayed the times, joking: "Friday is useless, imagine the Thursday!"

What's next:

Russell has traditionally been strong at Baku, finishing second last year despite illness. Mercedes will look to convert practice pace into pole, while Red Bull must analyze its data quickly to avoid falling further behind on Saturday. Antonelli's lost track time could hurt, but the team's rapid response keeps him in the mix.