Russell tops both Baku practice sessions as Mercedes sets the pace

George Russell topped both practice sessions for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes 1-2 in FP2 as the Silver Arrows emerged as the team to beat on Thursday in Baku. Championship rivals Red Bull and Ferrari stayed close, but a messy day for McLaren and a crash for Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad disrupted the running.

Why it matters:

With the new 2026 cars and a street circuit that punishes mistakes, practice time is precious. Mercedes' strong start could be a sign of things to come, but teams warn the timesheets don't tell the full story.

The details:

• Mercedes – Russell was fastest in both sessions, while Antonelli bounced back from a hydraulics issue and a precautionary PU change to finish P2 in FP2. The team cautions that rivals left time on the table.
• Red Bull – Verstappen was P2 and P3, reporting a competitive car with upgrades working well. Hadjar lost FP1 to a gearbox problem but recovered to P9 in FP2.
• Ferrari – A clean, straightforward day, but Leclerc and Hamilton both admitted they lack pace compared to Mercedes. Expect setup work overnight.
• McLaren – Both drivers hit trouble in FP1 – Piastri with brakes, Norris with loose bodywork – and despite a better FP2, they were off the front pace. The new upgrade is behaving as predicted but not yet fully unlocked.
• Racing Bulls – Lindblad crashed at Turns 8-10 in FP2, bringing out red flags after just four laps. Lawson was P7 in FP1 but slipped to P12 in FP2.
• Aston Martin – Alonso and Stroll will take grid penalties for new PU components. Alonso also lost time to a suspected oil leak in FP2.

What's next:

FP3 and qualifying are tomorrow. Aston Martin's penalties will shuffle the grid, and Pirelli expects a one-stop race with low degradation. Tyre preparation in cooler, windier conditions will be key.