Russell Sets the Pace in Baku Ahead of FP2

George Russell topped a disrupted Free Practice 1 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, putting Mercedes firmly in the mix. The spotlight now turns to FP2, where teams will look to refine their packages on the unforgiving Baku City Circuit.

Why it matters:

Baku demands precision and confidence, and with just three practice sessions before qualifying, every lap counts. For McLaren, resolving the gremlins with their new upgrades is critical, while Mercedes will aim to build on Russell's strong start.

The details:

• Russell leads the way: The Mercedes driver finished FP1 ahead of Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton.
• Antonelli's trouble: Kimi Antonelli ground to a halt with a hydraulic failure, cutting short his session and giving Mercedes work to do.
• McLaren's tricky day: The Woking squad lost valuable track time as issues with their new upgrades emerged.
• Session format: FP2 is the second of three 60-minute sessions, offering teams another chance to dial in their setups before qualifying.
• Live coverage: RacingNews365 is providing live timing and a live blog throughout the session.

What's next:

The key narrative for FP2 is whether Verstappen, Leclerc, or Hamilton can respond to Russell's pace. McLaren's ability to sort out their upgrade issues quickly will also be telling. Expect a focus on long runs and tyre degradation as the grid prepares for Saturday's qualifying shootout.