GEORGE RUSSELL LEADS AZERBAIJAN GP FP1 AS ANTONELLI SUFFERS HYDRAULIC PROBLEM - Motorsportsclicks

George Russell set the fastest time in the opening free practice session of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, putting Mercedes at the top of the timesheets in Baku. The Briton finished ahead of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli lost most of his session because of a hydraulic problem on his Mercedes.

The session started in hot conditions, with temperatures reaching around 28 degrees Celsius in the air and 50 degrees on the track. Most drivers began their programmes on the Hard tyres as they worked to improve the racing line on a dusty and slippery street circuit.

One of the main stories before the session was the return of Isack Hadjar. The Red Bull driver was back in action after missing the previous three rounds because of his wrist injury. The weekend also marked the first race for McLaren with its heavily updated MCL40, with the team bringing changes to several aerodynamic areas of the car.

McLaren’s upgrade package includes major changes around the sidepods, engine cover, cooling areas, floor and diffuser. The team also introduced changes to the rear suspension covers and rear wing mechanism, with the latter designed to reduce drag on Baku’s long straights. Red Bull also brought an aerodynamic update focused mainly on the floor and diffuser.

Carlos Sainz was one of the first drivers to encounter trouble. The Williams driver returned to the pits with a problem affecting the rear brakes, with the issue causing a small fire. Oscar Piastri also reported vibrations early in the session, while several other drivers had to manage technical or braking problems.

On track, Verstappen was initially the benchmark with a 1:46.635 on the Hard tyre. Antonelli then moved to the top with a 1:46.265, also on the Hard compound, before Lewis Hamilton briefly moved between the Mercedes driver and Verstappen.

However, Antonelli’s session was cut short after around 25 minutes. The Mercedes driver stopped at Turn 7 after reporting a hydraulic problem over the radio. He managed to bring the car into a run-off area, with the incident causing a short Virtual Safety Car period. FIA confirmed that Antonelli completed only nine laps during FP1.

The timing screens changed when the drivers started their Soft-tyre runs. Verstappen improved to a 1:45.787, but Russell went even faster with a 1:45.387. The Mercedes driver benefited from a strong slipstream on Baku’s long final straight, which helped him take the top position.

Ferrari followed closely with Leclerc third and Hamilton fourth, but both drivers set their best times on the Medium tyre rather than the Soft. This means the Ferrari times cannot be directly compared with Russell and Verstappen’s Soft-tyre laps. Leclerc also continued to use the ADUO2 power unit that he had used at Monza, while Ferrari’s decision over whether to introduce another engine later in the season remains an important point to follow.

Antonelli finished fifth despite completing only nine laps. Oscar Piastri was sixth for McLaren, followed by Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad. Esteban Ocon and Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top ten. Lando Norris had a particularly limited session as McLaren spent a long period checking his car, leaving him with only 14 laps.

The difficult conditions continued until the end of the session. Nico Hulkenberg stopped his Audi late in the session, while Lindblad also encountered trouble. Esteban Ocon then stopped shortly after leaving the pits, adding another interruption to an already complicated opening hour. Hadjar also completed only eight laps after spending a long time in the garage.

Russell therefore finished FP1 with a 1:45.387, 0.400 seconds ahead of Verstappen. Leclerc was another 0.004 seconds behind the Red Bull, with Hamilton fourth and Antonelli fifth. The result gave Mercedes a strong start, but the limited running for several drivers means the first session does not provide a complete picture of the competitive order.

Baku is one of the most difficult circuits on the F1 calendar because of its combination of very long straights and extremely narrow sections around the Old City. The circuit is 6.003 kilometres long and features 20 corners. The main straight creates strong opportunities for slipstreaming, while the tight Castle section leaves very little room for mistakes.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is also taking place on Saturday rather than Sunday because of Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day. This means practice is being held on Thursday, qualifying on Friday and the race on Saturday. The Baku event is the 15th round of the 2026 championship and also starts a triple-header, followed by races in Malaysia and Singapore.

Mercedes arrived in Baku leading both championships, with Antonelli holding an 81-point advantage over Russell after the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. Mercedes had also won 10 of the first 14 races of the season, making the performance of the two Silver Arrows one of the main stories of the weekend.

With FP2 still to come, Mercedes has already shown strong one-lap pace, but Antonelli needs more track time after his hydraulic problem and several teams still have to understand their updated cars. Red Bull and Ferrari remain close, while McLaren will need to recover the time lost by Norris and Piastri as the teams prepare for the more representative running later in the day.