Russell outpaces Antonelli to continue flying start in Azerbaijan

George Russell completed a dominant practice double at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by more than half a second in FP2. The Mercedes driver carried his FP1 form into the second session, while Antonelli's day was disrupted by a hydraulic leak.

Why it matters:

Russell's pace is a statement in the title fight. Antonelli still leads by 81 points, but if Russell maintains this speed into qualifying and Saturday's race, Mercedes could control the weekend. It also signals a potential shift in the competitive order heading into a triple-header.

The details:

• Antonelli missed most of FP2 after a hydraulic leak stopped his car in FP1. He returned after an engine change and recovered to second, finishing 0.552s behind Russell.
• Max Verstappen was third in Red Bull's upgraded car, 0.8s off the pace.
• Ferraris and McLarens were over a second down: Leclerc and Hamilton fourth and fifth, Norris and Piastri sixth and eighth.
• Arvid Lindblad caused a red flag with a crash in the castle section.

What's next:

With the race on Saturday, teams have just one more practice session before Friday qualifying. Russell's early pace makes him the benchmark, but Baku's unpredictable nature means nothing is guaranteed.