George Russell set the pace in both Thursday practice sessions at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, topping FP1 with a lap of 1 minute 45.387 seconds before going even quicker in FP2 with a 1:43.347. The Mercedes driver’s clean sweep puts him in a strong position heading into Friday’s qualifying at the Baku City Circuit.
Background
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is the 15th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season and is being held at the Baku City Circuit from September 24 to 26, according to Azernews. This weekend’s schedule has been shifted forward by a day because of Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on September 27, meaning qualifying takes place on Friday and the race itself on Saturday.
Several teams arrived in Baku with major car updates. Williams introduced significant changes ahead of the weekend, and McLaren also brought a sizeable package, while Audi listed 14 new components, more than any other team has introduced at a single event so far this season.
Details
FP1 began in hazy, warm conditions with several cars immediately struggling for grip on a dusty and slippery track surface. Max Verstappen initially set the pace before championship leader Kimi Antonelli briefly moved to the top of the times. Russell then produced the fastest lap of the session, finishing four tenths clear of Verstappen, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc only four thousandths further back in third.
Antonelli’s session was cut short after roughly 25 minutes when his Mercedes suffered a hydraulics issue, limiting him to just nine laps. Returning Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar, back after missing time with a wrist injury, also had a difficult outing, managing only eight laps because of brake and engine trouble. Lando Norris endured a tricky session of his own in the McLaren, completing just 14 laps and ending up down in 14th place.
Russell carried his form straight into FP2, gradually lowering his times through a series of runs on the soft compound tyre. He eventually clocked a 1:43.347, putting him half a second clear of Antonelli, who recovered from his earlier issue to finish second, with Verstappen third. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed for Ferrari, while rookie Arvid Lindblad became the first driver to crash during the weekend after clipping the barriers at Turn 8.
Quotes
Russell’s pace was helped in part by a tow down the long Baku straight from Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin during FP1, a tactic several teams leaned on given how much lap time a slipstream is worth on this circuit. Antonelli, still nursing the effects of his earlier mechanical issue, was nonetheless able to bounce back strongly in the second session and finish just behind his Mercedes teammate.
Impact
The session results matter beyond Thursday’s timesheets. Antonelli currently leads the 2026 Drivers’ Championship, but his reliability issue in FP1 is a reminder of how quickly things can change at the sharp end of the field. Russell’s strong showing across both sessions puts pressure on his teammate and gives Mercedes a genuine one-two threat heading into a circuit where overtaking chances can be limited.
For Verstappen, a competitive Baku weekend carries different stakes. The four-time champion is well outside title contention this year after Red Bull’s underperformance for much of the season, so results here are more about salvaging pride and strong finishes than championship implications.
Conclusion
Attention now turns to Friday’s qualifying session, where the true competitive order at the Baku City Circuit will become clearer. Given how closely matched Russell, Antonelli, Verstappen and the Ferrari pair looked across Thursday’s two sessions, a tight fight for pole position appears likely, with Saturday’s race shaping up as a key moment in the closing stages of the 2026 championship battle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the schedule for the Baku F1 Grand Prix in 2026?
The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix runs from September 24 to 26 at the Baku City Circuit. Because of Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day falling on September 27, the entire weekend programme has been moved forward by a day compared to a typical race weekend. That means both practice sessions were held on Thursday, qualifying takes place on Friday, and the race itself is scheduled for Saturday, September 26. The Baku City Circuit is a demanding 6.003-kilometre street track with 20 corners, combining long straights, where slipstreaming plays a big role, with tight, low-speed sections around the old town area known as Icherisheher.
Can Max Verstappen still win the championship in 2026?
Based on how the season has unfolded, Verstappen’s title hopes for 2026 are effectively over. Reports from earlier rounds this season noted that his position in the standings had fallen far enough behind the leaders that his championship challenge was mathematically finished well before the closing races, with Red Bull’s underperformance relative to Mercedes and Ferrari being the main factor. The title fight this year has instead become a battle primarily involving Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, along with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, with Antonelli holding a substantial points lead heading into the Baku weekend.
Who is on pole for F1 today?
As of Thursday’s practice sessions in Baku, pole position has not yet been decided, since qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled for Friday under this weekend’s adjusted timetable. George Russell was the fastest driver across both Thursday practice sessions, giving him a strong reference point heading into qualifying, but practice pace does not always translate directly into pole position once low-fuel qualifying laps and track evolution come into play. Fans looking for the confirmed pole sitter should check Friday’s qualifying results once that session concludes.
