George Russell set the pace in the opening Free Practice session ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver finishing ahead of Max Verstappen as Kimi Antonelli’s session was cut short by a mechanical issue.
Russell topped the one-hour session with a time of 1:45.387, finishing four-tenths of a second clear of Verstappen, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the top three.
A number of cars rushed onto the track as the pit-lane exit went green at 12:30 local time, but the drivers were immediately confronted by a dusty and slippery surface around the Baku street circuit.
Isack Hadjar, returning after missing the last three rounds because of a wrist injury, complained that his Red Bull was pulling to one side under braking. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, reported vibrations during the early stages of the session.
Carlos Sainz also encountered brake trouble, with his heavily upgraded Williams returning to the pit lane after just 15 minutes with the rear brakes visibly overheating.
Lap times continued to tumble as the track improved and drivers gained confidence. Antonelli briefly moved to the top of the timing sheets with a 1:46.265 on Pirelli hard tyres with around 25 minutes remaining.
The Mercedes driver was also among the first to switch to the soft compound, but his session quickly went wrong. Antonelli pulled over at Turn 7 on his out-lap, reporting a hydraulic problem over the radio as his Mercedes was recovered under a Virtual Safety Car.
Yellow flags were soon required again after both Verstappen and Russell ran off the track at Turns 1 and 3 respectively, although both drivers were able to continue.
Verstappen then became the first driver to break into the 1:46s, setting a 1:45.787 on the red-walled soft tyres. Russell immediately responded with a 1:45.387, aided by a slipstream along Baku’s long main straight.
A second Virtual Safety Car was deployed in the final five minutes after Arvid Lindblad became stuck in the Turn 7 run-off area. At roughly the same time, Nico Hulkenberg brought his Audi to a stop on the exit of Turn 4, with the car later being recovered behind the barriers.
Russell’s lap remained unbeaten when the chequered flag fell. Verstappen finished just ahead of Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with both Ferrari drivers setting their best times on the medium tyres.
Antonelli still managed to finish fifth despite missing the second half of the session, while Piastri took fourth after also losing valuable track time as McLaren worked on his car.
Liam Lawson and Lindblad placed the two Racing Bulls cars inside the top 10, joined by Esteban Ocon’s Haas and Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi.
Hulkenberg finished 11th in the second Audi, behind the Williams pairing of Sainz and Alex Albon. Lando Norris could only manage 14th after missing almost the entire session because of a technical issue, capping a difficult opening practice for McLaren.
Haas’ Ollie Bearman ended the session in 15th, ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Cadillac driver Sergio Perez, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Hadjar was classified down in 20th, with a power-unit issue limiting his performance. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas completed the remaining positions in the order.
Russell’s FP1 result is certainly an encouraging start for Mercedes, particularly on a Baku circuit where confidence, straight-line speed and stability under braking can quickly make the difference. However, it is still only the opening practice session, so the timing sheets should be treated with some caution.
The bigger talking point may actually be what happened behind Russell. Antonelli looked competitive before his hydraulic problem ended his session, while Verstappen was able to respond strongly once the soft tyres came into play. Ferrari also placed both drivers near the front, suggesting that the battle at the top could become much tighter as the weekend develops.
Meanwhile, McLaren has plenty of work to do after both Piastri and Norris lost valuable track time. Hadjar’s difficult return is another storyline to watch, especially with the Red Bull driver still working his way back after his wrist injury.
Baku has a habit of producing unpredictable sessions, and FP1 has already delivered mechanical problems, yellow flags, Virtual Safety Cars and several drivers running wide. If this is only the opening chapter, the rest of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend could get very interesting.
What do you think? Can Russell maintain his advantage when the teams reveal more performance, or will Verstappen and Ferrari strike back in the next sessions? And how do you see Antonelli’s return after his hydraulic issue? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Adhe is part of the 88 Eight Box Editorial Team, covering JDM culture, motorsport, automotive technology, and industry news. The team focuses on delivering original automotive stories, reviews, and insights for enthusiasts worldwide.
