George Russell Sets Fastest Time in Turbulent Azerbaijan Grand Prix Practice

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend began with anticipation, as teams arrived in Baku hoping to gain an early edge during the initial practice. The first session is always crucial for gathering data, fine-tuning setups, and adapting to the unique demands of the Baku City Circuit. George Russell, driving for Mercedes, quickly found pace, setting the tone for a competitive weekend. Meanwhile, attention was also on Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, and Max Verstappen, both expected to be strong contenders.

On September 24, 2026, the first practice session got underway in Baku. George Russell impressed early, consistently clocking fast laps and ultimately setting the quickest time of the session, according to Sky Sports.

Kimi Antonelli, Russell's Mercedes teammate and the current championship leader, encountered trouble when his car suffered a hydraulic leak. He was forced to stop on track and could not complete a flying lap on the fastest soft compound tires, as the BBC reported. This setback limited his running and left him only fifth fastest.

Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, finished second in the session. He was followed by both Ferrari drivers, who also showed promising speed despite the disruption caused by multiple technical issues during practice, Arab News noted.

The session was described as chaotic, with several other drivers experiencing car troubles. Isack Hadjar of Red Bull and Lando Norris were among those affected, leading to frequent interruptions and a stop-start rhythm throughout the hour, as detailed by L'Équipe.

As practice concluded, teams were left with less data than usual, and many cars required further checks and repairs before the next session.

George Russell sits atop the timesheets after the first practice, giving Mercedes a boost as the weekend continues. Kimi Antonelli's technical issues have left his team with work to do if he is to remain in the championship lead. Several teams are now racing against the clock to fix mechanical problems and adjust setups based on limited information. The unpredictable session means qualifying could see unexpected results if reliability problems persist.

All eyes are now on the next practice sessions and qualifying, where teams hope to resolve technical issues and unlock more performance. The grid for Sunday's race remains wide open, especially if reliability continues to play a major role.